Kids Allowed Altrincham

Not inclusive of SEN children and their needs.Simply put, KA and the KIDS PLANET GROUP are incapable of meeting the needs of SEN CHILDREN. Our son attended KA Altrincham between the ages of 1 and 3.5 years old and in the past 18months the problems we faced were endless.The staff in the babies and woddlers rooms were great and helped accommodate our non verbal son as it was becoming clear he may be autistic. Up to this point we felt there was consistency with the room staff so they all knew and understood our son and his needs.Unfortunately around the same time he transitioned to the toddlers room and eventually up to pre school there seemed to be a mass exodus of the senior room staff. In an 18month period over a dozen staff left and were replaced with either apprentices or newly qualified staff. This meant our sons key worker changed multiple times meaning he had no structure or routine. Numerous staff told us they felt undervalued, ultimately choosing to move on.Health care professionals found it difficult to arrange visits to nursery to help our son, one appointment taking around two months to arrange due to calls and emails not be replied to. Thankfully these visits eventually ended up taking place, however, strategies put in place by NHS speech and language were never properly implemented. As NHS staff arrived for visits they were asked to delay as parents were touring nursery….. Surely any prospective parent would have viewed a child receiving additional support a good thing, the nursery manager obviously didnt see it this way!More shockingly during a TEDS visit the healthcare worker found our son not being watched and eating playdough by the handful which was raised as a chocking hazard prior. The healthcare worker raised this to room staff and management and it was met with complete disregard and a shrugging of the shoulders and the words “what do you want us to do about it”. For perspective our son was receiving one to one support at this time (funded via the council) something we never felt he truly received, case and point above.For any parent reading this review and wondering why we continued to allow our son to attend KA Altrincham it was a case of not disrupting his routine (very important with autism) until we could get him a place at a specialist pre school. There were also a few good members of staff who really did try their best with our son despite the set up. Sadly most of those staff members have now left.Finally and perhaps the most frustrating partof our sons time at KA Atrincham, SEN children receive a grant for additional items to help support them during their time in nursery, this was spent on a trampoline and whizzy dizzy and lots of number and letter puzzles. At the time of choosing the items we were told by the manager at the time this could all come home with our son on leaving nursery, or be transferred to his new pre school to help contribute to his ongoing support, familiar items in a new place acting as a comfort. Unfortunately when we asked for this to happen on the last week it was refused, we asked for the manager to ask higher up but again, flat out refusal…. A child last year got to take home his trampoline and games, but not our son this year.Complete lack of consistency, understanding and empathy for children with additional needs. 1 star feels generous……..

Both my daughter's have attended Kids Allowed Altrincham and I would highly recommend to anyone looking for somewhere who will love and care for your child like their own. To help them learn and develop, to have fun and make friends, to grow up in a safe friendly caring environment who look after both child and parent and would go out of there way to help in anyway possible. I could write an essay on the facilities , the staff, the wellbeing , the food , the benefits you get at this place but I have not enough room - go and see for your self .