WEBVTT 00:00.600 --> 00:04.120 I found it quite scary when the time came for Oliver, 00:04.120 --> 00:05.860 my son to start preschool. 00:05.860 --> 00:08.420 I really didn't know how he was going to cope. 00:08.420 --> 00:11.240 I didn't know how I was going to cope to be honest. 00:11.240 --> 00:12.920 It didn't seem that long ago 00:12.920 --> 00:15.200 since we were discharged from hospital. 00:15.200 --> 00:17.360 When I was choosing a preschool, 00:17.360 --> 00:19.020 I tried to find out if they had 00:19.020 --> 00:21.480 any experience with premature birth. 00:21.480 --> 00:23.340 One of the preschools asked about 00:23.340 --> 00:25.800 children's birth history on their admission form, 00:25.800 --> 00:27.460 and there was a box to tick if 00:27.460 --> 00:29.620 you wanted to speak with someone about it. 00:29.620 --> 00:31.660 This felt like a great start. 00:31.660 --> 00:35.895 I filled it in and Sonya called me back to arrange a meeting. 00:35.895 --> 00:37.890 She introduced herself as 00:37.890 --> 00:41.170 the pre term birth lead for the preschool and explained that 00:41.170 --> 00:43.010 all their staff had had training about 00:43.010 --> 00:46.750 premature birth and how to support children's development. 00:46.750 --> 00:49.150 She explained that this meeting was a start of 00:49.150 --> 00:52.610 an ongoing dialogue between our family and the preschool. 00:52.610 --> 00:54.650 I found this really reassuring. 00:54.650 --> 00:56.390 Throughout the conversation, 00:56.390 --> 00:59.090 Sonia seemed sensitive to our experience. 00:59.090 --> 01:02.130 She was interested in what I felt Oliver's needs might 01:02.130 --> 01:05.970 be and how I felt the preschool could support us as a family. 01:05.970 --> 01:07.710 It felt good to be asked about 01:07.710 --> 01:11.105 our concerns and to be given the space to share them. 01:11.105 --> 01:13.180 I mentioned Oliver's health. 01:13.180 --> 01:16.560 He's particularly vulnerable to respiratory infections, 01:16.560 --> 01:19.480 and even a cold can make him seriously unwell. 01:19.480 --> 01:23.600 Sania explained how the illness policy is enforced to protect 01:23.600 --> 01:25.920 vulnerable children and said they would let me 01:25.920 --> 01:28.660 know whenever they noticed any illnesses going around, 01:28.660 --> 01:32.760 so I can make the decision on whether to bring in Oliver or not. 01:32.760 --> 01:35.120 I asked if the staff were familiar with 01:35.120 --> 01:37.520 corrected age and chronological age. 01:37.520 --> 01:40.020 Sania reassured me that the staff understood 01:40.020 --> 01:42.400 the importance of this and would always take 01:42.400 --> 01:44.840 both chronological and corrected age 01:44.840 --> 01:48.285 into account when assessing Oliver's development. 01:48.285 --> 01:51.790 She also said that we'd have regular meetings to discuss 01:51.790 --> 01:54.170 Oliver's progress and that staff can engage 01:54.170 --> 01:56.950 with the Senco if they need any further advice. 01:56.950 --> 02:00.570 Sonya was also really open to working with any specialists. 02:00.570 --> 02:04.310 She said it's a team effort and that felt great to hear. 02:04.310 --> 02:06.170 Sonia was supportive and 02:06.170 --> 02:08.510 compassionate and allowed me the space to 02:08.510 --> 02:10.190 share only as much as I felt 02:10.190 --> 02:13.010 comfortable with about Oliver's birth history. 02:13.010 --> 02:14.930 She said that this information would be 02:14.930 --> 02:17.370 shared with staff when Oliver moves room, 02:17.370 --> 02:20.510 so I wouldn't have to repeat our story every time. 02:20.510 --> 02:22.490 By the end of the conversation, 02:22.490 --> 02:24.190 I felt confident that the staff 02:24.190 --> 02:26.430 would recognise the long lasting impact 02:26.430 --> 02:28.390 that pre term birth can have 02:28.390 --> 02:31.330 and would be ready to support our family. 02:31.330 --> 02:33.630 I finally felt reassured and 02:33.630 --> 02:37.270 ready for Oliver to begin preschool.