Ed Pysch assessment during Easter school holiday

[Athena]

The Ed Psych wants to assess DD, but the assessment will be during the Easter holidays.

 

DD is so MUCH less stressed during school holidays and as such, displays less of her "unusual" behavior, such as hand flapping, hand clapping, chewing her hair, her clothes, (chewing anything at all really!) humming, laughing to herself, the 1000 metre stare into the distance....to name a few.

 

Do you think that it would be better if I explain my concerns and ask for the assessment to be re-scheduled for during school term-time? Or should I just rely on the Ed Psych being experienced enough to realise that children like DD are much less stressed when not at school. And that this means that their behavior will be different.

 

Bearing in mind that this is the LEA Ed Psych who will not give a firm diagnosis of ASD, that has told me that a diagnosis would not be helpful, but that nevertheless has advised the school that they should treat DD as if she does have ASD...

 

I was just going to be honest with the Ed Psych and suggest that it would be better to observe how DD behaves at school, which will not be possible to do during a school holiday. Or I could just say that we are away that week....

 

It is further complicated by the fact that we are applying for a Statement, and if I turn down this appointment, it will probably be AGES before I get another one....

 

The again, maybe it would be better to wait, rather than to have a report from the Ed Psych that states that DD is coping OK with school, when she isn't, and finds it very, very stressful.

 

Hmmm.....would do you think I should do?

 

Starting to think that I am becoming paranoid, or maybe "they" really are all out to get me!

[Kathryn]

Hmmm - If your daughter behaves very differently in the school and home environments I think it's essential for her to be seen at school, and good for her to be observed in both settings, if you can persuade the EP to a follow up visit to the school after the home visit. My daughter was assessed by an EP at home only but we had no choice: she was not attending school at all at the time.

 

If your application for a Statutory assessment is successful, an EP assessment is an automatic part of this.

 

K x

[Athena]

Hi Kathryn, thank you for replying, I have just voted on the "passive" poll, DD bottles everything up at school, which is very stressful for her and when she comes home she exhibits her more of her "unusual" (can't find a better word) behaviour, which seem to comfort her, particularly the chewing!

 

I didn't realise that the Ed Psych may visit her at home, that would be a good idea.

 

During the school holidays, she visibly relaxes, and exhibits much less chewing, clapping, flapping.

 

So the Ed Psych will be asked to carry out an assessment as part of the Statementing process? That is useful to know, will they want a new assessment, or will they accept an older one?

 

Sorry for all the questions!

[jb1964]

Hi,

 

I would say exactly the same as Kathryn - my daughter behaves totally different in school to how she is at home - that's not to say that there isn't overlapping of her behaviour at both settings - not only that you can see a totally different child on different days depending on circumstances, anxieties, her well-being/health etc on that given day. I think if it's possible for her to see both that would be best.

 

Obviously the Ed Pysch is going to be aware that children behave differently in different situations/environment - she will probably take all that into account during her assessment.

 

Take care,

Jb

[Kathryn]

Hi Athena,

 

Just checked my very detailed diary I kept at the time: she was assessed at home at my request. The EP mainly talked to me and then met her for about 20 mins. 2 months later as part of the statutory assessment she was seen at home for a more thorough assessment - i.e. some tests. Both reports formed part of the EP submission for the Statutory Assessment.

 

K x

[Athena]

Hi Kathryn,

 

I am going to press the Ed Psych to assess at home too. I am not that impressed with her previous assessment, it just reports DD's behaviour, without comment, and no tests were carried out, such as IQ, or diagnostic tests for autism. I am just learning about all this, and I am starting to realise that the Ed Pysch's report makes no mention of ASD, she told us in a meeting and on the phone.

 

I have also just discovered (through the wonders of Google!) the National Autism Plan for Children, March 2003, which recommends that a multi-disciplinary asessment should be carried out in 17 weeks.

 

17 weeks!!!! If only!!!

 

A

xx

[av16]

Ed psychs usually see a child more than once so is this first appointment for them to ontroduce themselves before meeting again in school. My experience is that they like to build up a picture so see the child in class, talk with them 1:1 and carry out some diagnostic tests as well as meet parents and teachers. You could ask in advance what their plans are, hopefully it might reassure you.

[chris54]

We have met with the EP 4 times (I think) over the last 6 month, after she has seen our son in school. At the last meeting we talked the report she will be doing for the Stat Assessment. As has been said they like to get a complete picture.

Edited March 24, 2009 by chris54

[Sally44]

I would get in touch with the National Autistic Society and speak with their advisors.

It sounds to be me like they are trying to stop you applying for a Statement of Special Educational Needs.

This is a legal document that will contain all the needs your child has and how the school should be supporting her for every one of her needs.

You need a Statement to get a Enhanced Resource place or a Special Needs place in school. Enhanced Resource is a mixture of mainstream children and those with ASD (in my opinion the best option for children that do have some interest in social interaction) and the school has a higher staff to pupil ratio and has experience and expertise in ASDs.

Even if your daughter remains in a mainstream only school she should have a Statement. LEAs sometimes deny statements to children in mainstream schools - that is illegal.

The LEA will try to stop you, because it will mean they will have to spend money on professionals and supports for your daughter.

Don't be fobbed off by being told that there aren't the staff, or the time, or the professionals available to support your daughter's needs. If she is showing alot of behaviours at home that would indicate that she is struggling to cope in school because they are not supporting her enough, or their approach is not autism friendly.

By law, the LEA has to meet every childs identified needs. If the LEA does not have the staff or hours available they have to PAY OUTSIDE PROFESSIONALS to come in to meet those needs. They cannot deny your daughter these supports if you have reports that state she needs them and those needs and recommendations have been included in her Statement. The difficulty is getting the NHS Speech Therapist and the LEA Ed Psych to write a report that fully details every need and gives recommendations against them. Both these departments run on budgets, and it is not in their interest to begin delving into what a child really needs to make progress in school. It would cost them too much, and their supervisors would never allow them to write those kinds of reports.

As an example, my son was seen by the NHS SALT for 3 years, and every time I would get a copy of the brief report. There was always a section that read "Behaviour and Social Communication". And every time it said "On this occasion we have not had an opportunity to observe XXX." So I asked them what this meant. She explained it was about any behaviours causing difficulties in school or due to anxiety/stress, and observations to see how my son interacted and played with his peers and what kinds of supports and strategies he might need during playtime and dinnertime. I was gobsmacked! After 3 years, they had not got around to observing my son in one of the key areas of difficulty required to get a diagnosis of an ASD. I wrote to the head of the SALT department and asked them to explain to me why they had not done those assessments, and I also said that I wanted a SALT with experience of Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

My son now has a SALT who is trained as a special needs teacher specialising in ASDs and also further qualified as a Speech Therapist. She goes into school every week to give one to one therapy for 30 mins and a dedicated teaching assistant has to observe this session and practice it throughout the week on a daily basis. My son's statement lists every area of speech and social communication he has difficulty with and the SALT has to work on all those itemised areas of difficulty. She has to give 6 hours per term on one to one therapy, and 9 hours per term on liaising, observing, planning, writing reports, attending IEPs, Social Skills Group etc.

I finally gave up hitting my head against a brick wall. I got independent private reports - must be professionals who are not employed by the LEA or NHS and they must have experience of going to Educational Tribunals. I also appointed a solicitor with experience in special educational needs. I found him through the NAS website. We went to an Educational Tribunal and we won every support I knew my son needed. He gets more support and therapy than any other child in his school - even the ones in the Autism Unit.

It isn't cheap. But now the NAS have a tribunal service, which would cut down the cost considerably.

Also the NAS and local Parent Partnership groups hold seminars about the Special Needs Statementing Process which is worth its weight in gold.

You need to find out about educational law and what your child is entitled to. At the time I couldn't believe it. But the LEA and professionals will lie, threaten, bully and do anything to keep their costs down. I am not delusional, I always had someone from the Parent Partnership with me at every meeting, and they always confirmed to me in writing what had been said to me. Always double check anything you are told when it involves denying your child access to supports or services. Chances are you have been lied to because by law a child's needs have to be met.

And education does not mean just reading and writing. It means preparing a child for independent living. So that may involve life skills, social skills etc and therapies and supports cannot be denied on the grounds that these are not educational needs. OT and PT cannot be denied on the grounds that these are not educational needs.

Get a copy of the Code of Practice and the SEN Toolkit for the Statementing process and read it yourself. It is an eye opener!!

[chris54]

I have just reread the original post.

 

It would not be an Educational Psychologist that would give a diagnosis of autism. It would usually be done by Clinical Psychologist with input from others.

[Sally44]

It is Ed Psych through the LEA/education (and advice into school on needs and recommended supports, and report trowards a Statement) and clinical psychologist through the NHS/health for initial diagnosis or other difficulties not associated directly with education eg. co morbid conditions such as bi-polar etc. I'm not sure if an Ed Psych can diagnose or whether they have to refer.

The best option is to ask the GP for a referal to a multi disciplinary team that has experience of diagnosing autistic spectrum disorders including Aspergers. Then you know you are being sent in the right direction.

Otherwise you can go private. Or you can contact the NAS for your nearest regional centre for assessing and diagnosing. Through the LEA/NHS it can take along time. Took me 18 months in total with another 2 years prior to that of being fobbed off by the Health Visitor and my GP.