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workingmum

cost of independent ed psych.

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Just wondering what the cost of an ed psych will be to

 

1, visit dc current school and home

2. visit lea proposed school

3. visit our proposed school and independent school and

4. write a detailed report.

 

What really is reasonable? What are the pros and cons?

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I think it might be a good idea to get an EP to do a detailed assessment of you son before the visits. That would mean when EP visited the new school/s, he would have some idea of which might suit your son.

 

If you are going to tribunal, it might be worth finding an EP who would attend that too.

 

Unfortunately, this would put the price up, but if you are spending ££££ you need to make sure you ask for the right things for your money.

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There is a list of Ed Psych's on the NAS website. Might be an idea to email them with your list for an idea, but def go for one with tribunal experience.

 

Obviously geographical location can have an impact on costs, as you have to pay costs for their travel.

 

Looking at your list, from my experience, I would say around £1200, without the cost of the tribunal day itself. Other Ed Psychs might charge more.

 

Hope that gives you an idea?x

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You can also go onto the BPS website and ACHIPP website. They list Educational Psychologists in independent practice.

 

What do you feel your child's primary diagnosis is? You need an EP that is qualified and experienced in that area.

 

If your child also has a SpLD like dyslexia, you are looking for an EP with experience of both an ASD and SpLD. You may find someone more local via something like the British Dyslexia Association, or Dyslexia Action if it also involves a SpLD.

 

What you need to remember is that educational tribunals go on evidence. You can say what you think your child needs, but if no professional has stated that in a report you are unlikely to get it.

 

There are certain times when it is more helpful to get independent advice. That maybe when the Statement is first being drawn up, because you want a strong legally worded Statement that gives the results of baseline assessments in all areas so that you can monitor progress from then.

 

Another good time is during transition in year 6, so that the child gets the appropriate placement for secondary school.

 

Are you already in the tribunal process? If so what is your deadline for final submissions? Many good EPs are booked months in advance.

 

As already mentioned you need the EP to see your son in the home and school environment. You want the EP to carry out standardised assessments of his cognitive abilities. The EP can also consider any other reports you have eg. SALT, OT etc and draw their recommendations together to state the type of school and provision your child needs.

 

Then they would visit the LEAs recommended school to see if they could provide it. Parents can do that too, but an EP may be more able to identify why the school cannot meet the childs needs.

 

Then you need the EP to visit the proposed school and say if it can meet his needs. As there are not alot of independent schools around for SEN, you tend to find that many of the professionals know of the school anyway and some may not even need to visit it. The OT I am using for independent advice already works with some of the children at the school I want as the placement, so she is well aware of the facilities at that school. That helps, and saves money.

 

The school itself maybe able to give you some names of EPs that have worked on cases for other children.

 

If it is an independent school the child must have gone there for the school to see him for themselves and for them to say that he is right for their school and for them to offer you a place (that offer needs to be in writing).

 

You need to know the independent schools fees and what is included in those fees in terms of professional therapy ie. 1x 30min 1:1 session with SALT, SALT joint planning with the teacher for the delivery of the curriculum etc.

 

In my case I am after an ASD specific independent school, but because my son has severe SpLD we also need to get quotes for a specialist teacher to deliver literacy and numeracy. That cost will be extra whether it is delivered in the indpendent school or whether it is delivered in the LEA maintained school.

 

You also need to consider transport. Does the independent school already have a taxi going to them from your area. Is there a place in it. Transport costs alone can amount to over £10,000 for a child that has to travel everyday with an escort so it is much cheaper if there is already a place in another taxi going to the same school.

 

You need the reports to be very specific and worded in a way that it is obvious that the LEA cannot provide that same provision in their maintained school. Sometimes this can be quite complex, at other times it is very simple.

 

If you are going to tribunal you may well need the EP to attend as an expert witness so that the Panel can question them. The LEA will definately bring someone from their proposed school, their EP and probably their SALT.

 

You would benefit from having an advocate, and from them telling you from the start how good a chance you have got. Sometimes it is better to spend less and get a better Statement and go with the LEAs choice and see if your child does make progress. If they don't that is your evidence that that placement is not suitable.

 

Some charities will help you prepare your case for a tribunal. Others will send someone to support you. Some solicitors work on a Pro Bono basis - but they usually don't have much experience of educational law and that really is essential.

 

If any of your case is resting on the SALT or OT input then you need those reports to specify the provision he needs. The EP cannot do that. She may say he needs to be seen or needs input from an OT but the EP cannot say how much input the child would need. That is not in their remit.

Edited by Sally44

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Regarding costs. In 2009 I paid around £1500 for an EP to visit the home and school and produce a report for tribunal.

 

In 2011 I paid £380 for a report that just contained results of a whole range of cognitive assessments and which recommended the "type" of school my son needed.

 

Any visiting of schools and attending tribunals is extra. And travelling costs are also extra so try to find someone near to where you are. For Tribunal the EP or any other witnesses may need to stay overnight in a hotel. Sometimes tribunals run into a second day.

 

Expect to pay between £6-900 for an expert witness to attend tribunal.

 

And all this makes me so angry because the tribunal process is supposed to be "family friendly". It isn't. It is expensive and stressful.

 

Please check and make sure you are not eligible for Legal Help.

 

If your child already has a Statement and parts of it are not being complied with then Judicial Review maybe a better route than back to tribunal. But I don't know enough about the situation to know if Judicial Review is even an option.

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Thanks all for your timely advice. Surprise Surprise - just heard that LEA does not want to go to tribunal and now are arranging to do a review and looks likely or have indicated a special school.

 

Now our problem is that we have not been considering this - so now have to look at both special and other independent school able to provide for Dc needs. DC is high functioning ASD - hence we dont feel the special school will be suitable.

 

Any one have ideas pro and cons of special schools please - maybe i try a new thread on this.

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An independent EP can assess your child's cognitive ability and they can also visit proposed schools.

But what you also need to consider is not just the 'cognitive ability' or potential, but also how the child will cope within the learning environment and during unstructured free time.

 

You need to go and visit the school the LEA is suggesting and see what the other pupils are like.

 

On principal you can argue that a MLD special school is not suitable for your child if they are cognitively able. But then you need to know that they will be in a fit state of mind to be able to learn in your preferred placement. If that placement is specifically for those on the spectrum with the same types of difficulties and your child has visited and been seen and 'approved' by the school so that they say they can meet the needs, then okay.

 

But remember it also boils down to costs. And IF the LEA can prove or give a good argument that the special school can meet the needs, then you may not get your preferred place. If it involves extra money the LEA will fight it vigerously and you will need written evidence in professional reports for everything your child needs. Basically the Statement is a "cut and paste job" of the professionals reports. If they don't say it your child doesn't get it.

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