“The more he went to nursery, the more he smiled in the car when I said where we were going”

My name is Laura and my son is Shea. He is 3 years and 9 months. He has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and has lost most of the right side of his brain due to a brain abscess that he got while fighting meningitis.

He has large heart catheter which he had fitted in June this year and has also been diagnosed with autism.

Attending nursery

Shea attends a nursery in Surrey which supports children with a range of disabilities. He’s been going there since he was two and loves it. His key worker is great, as are all the nursery staff, they make everything fun. It’s really nice to catch up with the parents of the other children who attend.

He loves going to the sensory room with all the lights and also enjoys music therapy. He is in his own little world most of the time but he is, and always will be, our shining star.

We will be there every step of the way with him.

The transition after summer

Six weeks seems so long with a disabled child who needs 24 hour care. Just going out for a few hours feels like you’re going away for weekend with all his equipment and feeding tubes.

But after the summer holidays it takes him a while to get back into a routine. He’s always so tired after nursery and needs a little sleep when I collect him!

When Shea started nursery in 2021, I will admit I cried in the car for a while. It took us all time to adjust. But the more he went to nursery, the more he smiled in the car when I said where we were going.

When he’s there I miss him like crazy. But the smile he gives me when I pick him up makes it all worthwhile.

Starting school

We’re waiting for Shea’s EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) to go to panel but due to shortage of educational phycologist we have to wait. I really want the plan in place soon, so I can get his name down for the special school I want him to go to. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

We have a small picture book (PECS: picture exchange communication system) and as Shea gets older, we’ll use it to help with the transition to school. We’ll mark down the days of holidays and big stars or circles when school starts.