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How to select an education psychologist

8 replies

boldredrosie · 03/03/2011 16:20

My son's school (fee-paying) believes my son would help from an assessment by an educational psychologist.
The real thrust behind this is that his handwriting is god-awful and we all know that he'll fail any exam he sits in a few years time because nobody will be able to read anything. He uses a laptop in class but unless has a statement from a psych that he really needs it that can be given to the examining body, he will not be able to use a computer in any exam. At his previous school (state) opinion was heading this way too.
I suppose none of these teachers want to see are relatively able child fail exams for something as mundane as crap handwriting.
But I don't know how to find one?
Does anybody know where to start?

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LIZS · 03/03/2011 16:24

Can the school not recommend one ? Or there is a list hereFor most public exams now as long as the laptop is an established method of use that is sufficient .

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mummytime · 03/03/2011 16:49

BTW it is rubbish "but unless has a statement from a psych that he really needs it that can be given to the examining body, he will not be able to use a computer in any exam". The rules are that if a child usually uses a computer to access the curriculum then they can do so for exams. An Ed Psych report will make no difference one way of the other, it is the pupils usual way of working.

Secondly Ed Psychs do not produce statements. A statement is an LEA/statutory assessment of need, it involves input from a range of professionals and is very hard to obtain.

Finally I very very very much doubt that your son's handwriting is so bad he could not pass exams. He may write too slowly, or he might do better using a lap top or an amanuensis, but if anyone can read his writing then he can pass the exams, (this is from personal experience).

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boldredrosie · 03/03/2011 17:00

Mummytime, son's handwriting so illegible even he can't read it.

And could you direct me to where I could find supporting evidence for "if a child usually uses a computer to access the curriculum then they can do so for exams"? This is what I'd been told previously but the SENCO said this isn't the case. Obviously I'd much prefer if it was so if you could tell me where the rules live, I'll look them up and we can hopefully avoid a visit to the ed psych.

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LIZS · 03/03/2011 17:11

How old is your son ? If the exams are CE or 13+/11+ entrance tests they can require an EP report but GCSE/A levels not. There was a thread about it a little while back here

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neolara · 03/03/2011 17:18

To find an ed psych, look on the website of the British Psychological Society. They have a facility to find a psychologist in your area. Talk to a few to find out if they can do what you want before handing over your money.

Can't your ds's school recommend an EP in the area?

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boldredrosie · 03/03/2011 17:27

LizS thanks for link to cross post,will read and take note.
Neolara, I'm sure they can but what I've found with my son is that I always leap to do what the schools ask me to do and I don't always think their advice and recommendations have worked in DS' interest (he's been sight, hearing and physically tested to such a degree you'd think he was joining the armed services). So I have asked the SENCO which ed psych reports she's seen recently that she thinks were useful but I'd really like to understand the process and what to look for from people who've walked down this road before me.
DS is a babyish 12, funny, kind but really not suited to school.

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mummytime · 04/03/2011 09:27

Here is the relevant document that the SENCO should be reading, it is produced by the JCQ who oversee all GCSE etc. qualification. JCQ The key piece of text on word processing is 2.8.1.

Good luck!

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boldredrosie · 04/03/2011 10:02

Thank you everybody very much. I have just sent a mail to the school with section 2.8.1 cut and pasted and I even spoke to the JCQ this am who confirmed that the decision to allow a child to use a puter in exams rests entirely with the examining centre -- in our case DS' school.
Of course, it's entirely possible that with as frustrating a pupil as my boy they want an ed psych report so they have something to refer to. I, on the other hand, would like to keep the 500 quid in me pocket and give my kid a break from being examined, prodded, poked and studied.