Newbie needing advice

[245mcl]

Hi, I have an 8yr old son with a diagnosis of aspergers and a 4yr old son with a diagnosis of autism, the 4 year old is statemented and has a teaching assistant whereas the 8 year old is struggling in school, his writing is illegible, he doesn't want to read and when he does he forgets words from one page to the next. I have been asking for two years for him to be sen by an ed psych, I even phoned her myself and was told she can't do anything unless the school refers him. Can anyone give me advice on how I can get my son assessed?

[Suze]

Have you approached the senco at his school ? what have they said ?..to get the ed physch on board you,ll have to prove he is falling behind academically, has he been assessed for dyslexia ?

[Sally44]

From now on start putting everything in writing, because you need it as evidence.

 

As said, have a meeting with the SENCO. Ask them to refer him to the EP for assessments. After the meeting put it in writing eg. "further to our meeting on xxxx, we discussed my concerns about xxxx and that I would like him to be seen by the EP. You said that you would refer him and therefore I look forward to hearing when this assessment will take place."

 

Ask who the EP is. Phone them and then send in a letter afterwards. On the phone and in the letter, ask them to carry out "standardised assessments" and to also "assess him for a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia and problems with short term or working memory".

 

Has he ever been seen by a SALT?

 

You can write to the LA yourselves and ask for an assessment towards a Statement, you don't need any professional or school to agree with you. You just need

 

But firstly put pressure on the school.

 

Does he have IEPs? Is he meeting those targets. You need to submit two IEPs with your request for assessment towards a Statement.

 

Also what are his social skills and speech and language skills like?

 

How is he doing academically compared to his peers?

 

Also download a copy of the SEN Code of Practice from the top of this Education Forum page under SEN Publications. That tells you what the school and LA should be doing at School Action Plus and also for the Statement.

Edited January 14, 2013 by Sally44

[245mcl]

It is the SENCO I have been having the meetings with and she has said he is on the list, but when I asked the education psychologist, she said he wasn't. He has had an IEP for 3 years and support from MASTS for his social and behavioural skills but even they have raised their concerns with me regarding his disposition since going into P4, they asked me had there been a death in the family because he is so deflated in school. I know he gets different work in school because he tells me him and another boy are "stupid" and teacher says he is "special". I am not saying the school haven't been supportive because they have, they realised my son needed assessed as soon as he entered P1 and they did put strategies in place to support him but I can't keep going through the same tears and tantrums every night at homework time and my son hitting himself and calling himself stupid, I feel like stopping homework altogether but I am worried this will be detrimental in the long term. My apologies for the rant. Thanks for the advice I found it really helpful.

[Suze]

Rant away lol............your son sounds like mine at primary school, he hid under the table, had no eye contact, cried all the time and sat in class not participating at all.A OT went in to do a dyspraxia assessment and he was immeadiately urgently referred to CAMHS by her.My son was exactly the sdame with homework, he had no confidence and hated school.Things improved with a statement and when he went to high school, where he had more specialist provision.......excellent advice as always from Sally xx

[Soda]

Poor mite. School must be so hard for him and for you at the moment. Echo what Sally said. The SENCO should be the starting point. maybe you need to get a little bit assertive. I don't mean stroppy or unpleasant but be honest and tell her that something has to change because of the impact it's having oh him. If she feels powerless to get him assessed more quickly them who can you speak to that can sort this? Tell her you need an action plan and don't come out of the meeting without something agreed. I have found that people respond quickly if you put pen to paper. If she can't help you then who can?

Good luck,it's hard

[245mcl]

Thanks for all the advice, it's nice to know what to do next, kept thinking I was some sort of neurotic mother.

[Sally44]

Again I would advise you keep a daily diary of what your child is saying and doing. He is not happy in school. His anxiety is raised. He is noticing he is different and he is labelling himself as stupid. These are all things my son did too.

 

I would write to the SENCO detailing this. Say you want your son referred as a matter of urgency because he is starting to refuse school and is not happy. [You already have another professional telling you he is 'deflated' or it maybe 'depression?'.

 

I would also advise that you go back to the Paediatrician that diagnosed him, or go to your GP and ask for a referal to Clinical Psychology department for children with a diagnosis of an ASD. You need their help and advice for you and for the school and for evidence if you need to go to an Educational Tribunal in the future.

 

Regarding homework. If he is getting that upset about it, you again need to meet with the SENCO and tell them that. If it upsets him so it is because he cannot do it or does not understand it. That is not his fault. If the school cannot differentiate his work in a way he can access it, then he needs additional support. Or he may have a specific learning difficulty such as Dyslexia or problems with short term or working memory. In any case this is another reason he needs to see the EP and for them to carry out standardised assessments. Unfortunately it is only those that keep pushing that get it. So keep up the pressure and write those letters.

 

In the end my son stopped doing homework. He did get extremely anxious and develop an Anxiety Disorder and OCD. He refused school and did not attend for about a year. His mainstream primary school could not meet his needs. We ended up back at Tribunal and we won a placement at an ASD specific school for children with around average cognitive ability. We also got funding for a specialist Dyslexia teacher.

 

Remember that SEN law is about identifying the needs of the child and meeting them. There is no monetary limit on that. So it is about following the procedure. Download a copy of the SEN Code of Practice, which you can find at the top of the education forum under SEN Educational Publications. This explains the SEN graduated approach. You need to read chapters 7 and 8.

 

Also, if he is falling further behind in his work this is a trigger for additional SEN support. And I would also advise that you ask the school to refer him to a speech and language therapist because his difficulties with his school work may relate to difficulties he has with language in general, which is typical of an ASD anyway.

 

Remember that your son's behaviour and what he is saying is a reflection of how he is feeling. And it isn't good for a child to be chronically stressed like this, it can lead to other things. The SENCO needs to listen to that and act on it.

 

You also need Clinical Psychology involved because IF he does start to refuse school you need their support so that the educational welfare officer does not get involved.

 

Just noticed you are in Belfast. Is the SEN process the same as in the UK??

Edited January 16, 2013 by Sally44

[245mcl]

Hi Sally, thanks for the advice, going to get started today, this has been going on for too long. I'm so frustrated because my younger son was diagnosed in October 2011, had an EP assessment in January 2012 and had a statement in place providing him with one to one support from his first day in school in September 2012, yet I've got nowhere with his brother, except reports on his unacceptable behaviour, which I appreciate can be difficult for the teacher to manage in a class of 26 other children. Starting to rant again, better go and do those letters.

 

Thanks

MC

[Sally44]

Sometimes more 'capable' children are overlooked, which isn't fair. They have clinically significant difficulties to such a degree that it warrants a diagnosis. And you can see that he is deteriorating.

 

Could you contact the EP that saw your younger son and ask her for advice. She might not cover that particular school. But she may know who does and could talk to them. Definately put in writing to the SENCO that you want a referal to EP as a matter of urgency. You can ask the school who the EP is and phone and talk to them, and then send in a letter to them also. This paper trial becomes your evidence of what has been happening if you ever need it. Phone calls are not the same. There is no paperwork that details what was discussed and what was agreed. So always put it in writing, and always get written replies.

[245mcl]

Hi Sally , I actually spoke to the EP who diagnosed my younger son and the only reason she took my call was because she knew me, but she herself said they couldn't do anything without a referral from the school. I had offered to pay for a private assessment, though its not a sum of money we could easily afford, but the problem we have here in Northern Ireland is that they are not recognised by the school, I don't know if you have the same problem? The good news is they have offered additional support in terms of teaching him literacy and numerousy in a smaller group, but I am concerned that this is another barrier to him being referred as my understanding is if the school feels they can meet his needs then they won't refer him, is that correct? Thanks for the input, letter already away to SENCO , I'll keep you posted.

 

MC

[Sally44]

I would put your request in writing to the school and also he EP that you want the school to ask the EP to assess him using "standardised assessments". These are assessments that give you a level from which you can measure progress.

 

Do you have a Statementing process in Ireland. Can you ask the LA to assess your child for a Statement. In England you can, and by asking the LA to assess they have to send in the EP to do those assessments. If the LA refuse to assess you have the right of appeal to SEND. Do you also have the right to appeal to SEND?

[Sally44]

Ive just had a quick look, and the system looks similar.

 

In the UK you can ask the LA to assess your child for a Statement even if the school, EP and everyone else does not agree they need it. So by asking for an assessment for a Statement, and detailing your concerns for your child, and asking the Local Authority to ask an EP, speech and language therapist and occupational therapis to assess their child for a Statement, they then get the assessments the school or LA have been denying for so long. Obviously the LA could just refuse, but then you have the right to appeal to SEND asking them to Order the LA to assess your child for SEN.

 

This is the link I found http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/7-special_educational_needs_pg/7-special_needs-a_guide_for_parents_pg/7-special_educational_needs_-_a_guide_for_parents-contents_pg/special_educational_needs_-_a_guide_for_parents-newpage-3.htm