What to do with a damaging EP report?

[Malika]

Hi to all

 

When H was finaly DX last year, I thought to get more help from the school they put him on school action + but he actually received less support as what had been put on paper was not Happening, for that reason I requested a statutory assesment and this was refused by the LEA saying that he was not meeting the criteria ( when asked in writting about their criterias I never received any answer ) in the mean time they sent The LEA specialist in communication disorder who said that it is obvious that he meets the ASD dx but he should be supported from school action +.

 

The medical report suggested H should be assessed with a reference to the medicale report and should be consider for a statement.

Then the LEA senior EP came to give some tests to H ( well chosen to diminished his area of weakness and increased his area of strengh ) and she said she was just giving some advice to the school, In the report she wrote she was not there to question H DX (of course she is not qualified for this ) but she think that H is very bright and willing to performed she said he did well above average on every tests (93 to 98 % ) except in language expression where he was still in the average band (49%) but shows a clear discrepency, she then argued on paper that H was not socialising because She had notice he was sometimes late at school on the morning which happened during the first 2 months but very rarely after that, she saw him in March, she then argue that H expression difficuties could eventualy been explained by the fact that English was not my mother tongue (even if spoken by his sister and my partner to a very good standard) while it was obvious H pb was not single words but mainly building sentence then she suggested that H needs to socialised should be developed by me taking him to various clubs and activities after school.

 

In brief when we went to the SENDIST they could well see that H needs were not even slightly assest, progress were poor as his level had not increase since the previous year, the head just explain that because of the different complexity in the work in y3 respective to y2 in fact we can consider that some progress had been made.

 

After all that the SENDIST dismissed my appeal saying that they rather like to give more consideration to the EP report than the medical report as well because the EP report was more recent (march oppose to medical report in Septembre).

 

Now I have try to complained about the EP but been faced with "she is the senior EP" and not much can be done about her (I know from other parents that she gives a hard time to most and the only way out for the few who could afford was to get a private EP)

 

There is no way I can afford to pay for a private EP (300 to 600 pounds or more)

and now I see that the little support H was given in Septembre this year is shrinking, I had an OT report which did not assest H sensory integretion PB barely some physical one, his social difficuties are increasing every day he is now alone on the playground every day and does not even want to try, refusing as well any kind of after school activities (but I have been told that social skills is not really part of the curriculum) he is I must say improving in maths and science and in litteracy even if I found the same weakness in his work over the years which are not really addressed. He is as well quite well behave and does not attract attention.

The difference is that this year H teacher is really making an effort but most of other people in the school have little knowledge of ASD ( how surprising!!)

 

I am trying to push thing on the medical side to get a new OT assesment and some test done as well as having H monitored by a paediatrician which is still to come. (but every thing is sooo slow)

 

I have investigated 3 other schools H could go to 1 does not have space and the 2 other seems not to give any support for SEN children without a statement!!!!

 

Now I feel more upset every day seeing H little social skills deteriorating further the fact that his school is being rebuilt at the moment makes things even more chahotics.

 

PPPLLLEEAASSEE PLEASE any help any suggestions would be welcome I feel we are completly stuck with no way out...

 

Malika.

[Helen]

Malika,

 

I think you need to go through all the reports that you do have, with a fine tooth comb. If there's any comment that you believe to be factually incorrect you must challenge it and give the correct information.

 

You need to start building up a case for your son again and when the time is right make another request for a statutory assessment.

 

An LEA EP: It's been mentioned on this forum a few times that unless an EP is registered with the British Psychological Society parents don't have much of a chance of having their complaints adequately dealt with by their LEA. If an EP is registered with the BPS then the BPS will investigate the complaint. If your LEA doesn't investigate your complaint adequately you may have reason to complain to The Local Government Ombudsman.

 

You could make a request to your son's headteacher for you to view (and photocopy if necessary) your son's school/SEN file. Perhaps you need to look in this file to see how the school is actually addressing his needs? This is the link you need: http://www.yourrights.org.uk/your-rights/c...rds/index.shtml

 

Good luck.

[lisa]

Malika

 

I don't have any advice to offer, only <'> <'> , as you probably know, we are in a very similar situation and it breaks my heart to watch my daughter suffer while the school insist she's fine. I can see this happenning more and more with LEA's reducing the amount of statements and parents being stuck with inadequate support. The problem as you've already found is that why would another school want to take on a SEN child when they'd have to pay for support out of their own budget. From their point of view, same budget, fewer SEN kids, more money to go around!

 

We too lost our tribunal case, we had a rubbish EP who wasn't even registered with the BPS. She seemed to hardly know anything about ASD. L has only had one visit from an EP in 2 years of being on SA+ and that was only because we were fed up of nothing being done and so applied for statutory assessment (which was refused because she hadn't seen an EP, like whose fault is that!)

 

We too had a "professional" assess L and purposely test the "good bits" while omitting to test the things she finds difficult. In our case it was the OT.

 

I don't know how these people can go home and sleep at night.

 

We plan to do what Helen says, we've been putting a lot of pressure on the school to put in 1:1 support and are basically being a pain in the backside, while also trying to gather evidence together to request statutory assessment again. We're hoping that eventually the school will get so fed up that they'll agree to back our request. It won't stop us requesting the assessment if they don't back us but it'd strengthen our case if they do support us.

 

Lisa

[Malika]

Helen,

 

Thanks you so much for your reply.

 

There are quite few factual mistakes in my son EP report like dates of him starting the school he is in and as well about my origine which I am refere to as French/Morroccan while H father was from Morrocan origine and I have no others origines than French I am sure I can find plenty more, as well when she mention that H is always late it is easy to see from the attendance record that it is not true and even when he was late he had not miss the registration time. Even the school seemed very annoyed with the lateness thing and told me not to take any notice.

There were other things which had been said in a certain way at the meeting with the EP and SENCO and have been changed in the written report. I have a witness for that.

 

the EP seems to be registred with the BPS at least that what she put as part as the numerous diploma and certificate she says she has.

I had already thought to complain to the BPS but pushed it aside as I think it was too much for me at the time.

 

I have as well taken an appointment in another school out of borough but quite close to me as I live near the border That school has a language unit attach to it (this seems to be only for statemented children) but the SENCO there has a very good record for looking after children on the spectrum the school is as well praise for giving an exeptional level of care to their special need children statemented or not and I hope I may get a better deal for H, what I do not know is if my borough can prevent me from getting there, as for the question of funding I am not sure if there would be a problem, as H at the moment is only on school action plus, I think I should try to settle if possible a deal in that other school and in the mean time prepare my complain letter to the BPS.

 

Any information most welcome.

 

Thanks a lot. <'> <'>

 

Malika.

[Malika]

Hi Lisa

 

Thank you so much for your reply I was posting when it went through.

Our Ep is supposed to be registred but I know as a matter of fact that many people working for the council lie on their qualifications and may be on this too, how I know is from my partner who work in a school they never investigate and never ask for proof about qualifications ( except when they don't want to take you in)

 

I just pop in to the other school and given an appointment for the 7th of December with the SENCO. not really sure they will give H a chance especially out of borough but...it is worth the effort.

 

Hope you will get something better as it is so frustrating.

 

Take care. <'> <'> <'>

 

Malika.