A couple have revealed their frustrations after numerous nurseries have rejected a place for their non-verbal child who suffers from severe allergies. Lucy and James Ellis admit to being "angry" and feel like their little boy is seen as an "issue".
Ten nurseries have outright rejected two-year-old Jacob, who has allergies to soya, egg and grass and needs an EpiPen - a device which injects epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. The parents have been trying to get their child into a nursery over the past 18 months, with difficulties first arising when he was just six-months-old.
In total, 25 nurseries have been contacted by the couple from Oldham to no avail, with the James believing they are being rejected over a lack of EpiPen training. The 34-year-old has offered to organise the training for free, but he said: We’re frustrated and angry. We’re being told essentially that our little boy is an issue – that he’s a burden these places aren’t willing to help with."
“I get upset that he’s missing out on this time where he could be interacting with children his age and learning vital social skills as simple as sharing, personal space and boundaries. I play with him like I’m his little friend; I let him lead the fun and experiment with him with different tasks and play areas
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"It’s absolutely rewarding and so special, but it breaks my heart he’s got no kids his age to play with and learn from or have that safe environment to get used to being away from myself and his mum and have that little bit of independent time.”
Lucy, a primary school teacher, from Royton, said they have either had their nursery applications ignored or they have been refused after visiting the premises to look around. The pair say they have applied for nurseries around Royton, Shaw, Chadderton and Middleton.
James continued: “Even when I offered to get the EpiPen training organised for free from community nurses in Oldham, I had a nursery say they didn’t have the funding to pay staff to do overtime to do the course. Even when I offered to pay the overtime costs, I was just dismissed.
“We’ve also been told a few times because he’s non-verbal they couldn’t help, even though he hasn’t been diagnosed with any learning difficulties yet and could very well just be a late bloomer, they aren’t willing to help. A few places have offered us unrealistic hours like two hours a day on two days a week which isn’t sufficient.”
James says that since going public with their struggles, the family has received a reply from a nursery, but talks to discuss what sessions can be offered to Jacob are ongoing. “We are taking him to Surestart community centres multiple times per week to let him play with others in a playgroup environment while also being watched by special educational needs team so they can see how he is doing to start to develop a plan to help him,” he added.
Councillor Eddie Moores, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We are sorry to hear Lucy has been frustrated in her experience of trying to find a nursery place for her son. While we do not control the admissions process for privately owned early years settings, we would strongly encourage Lucy to contact our Family Information Service (FIS) so we can support her in finding a suitable childcare place."
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