EP report, when is it too old?

[knackeredknitter]

So the tribunal have ordered the LA to carry out an assessment of my DS1's (ASD/ADHD) needs, yay!
But they are saying that the report carried out by a private EP in June will be out of date, so they will go with their own EP, who needs to make a new report.
Surely this can't be right, it was only done in June. Is it really already outdated.
Also they want me to come in and write my views with the help of the school senco and discuss with them. I did my DS2's statement a few years ago and wrote my views on my own, have things changed completely with EHC plan?

[fairgame]

My understanding is that the can't have a new EP assessment within 6 months of the last one. If i am correct then you can't have another one until next month at the earliest. I'm sure someone will be along soon to confirm for definite though.
I wouldn't be happy about writing my views with the SENCO, i would rather do it on my own as well

[AgnesDiPesto]

The LA EP hadn't seen my son for 13 months when he was a witness for LA at our tribunal! The LA would be expected to get their own professionals to see your child as part of their assessment. But it doesn't mean they can ignore your evidence or dismiss it. To be sure your report is part of the assessment (and included in evidence circulated to other professionals) attach it as an appendix to your parental evidence and say in your parental statement you are relying on it. I went as far as page numbering my submission including appendices so they couldn't be left out. I wouldn't update your EP evidence now just wait and see if get a plan and if you are happy with it. If you end up having to appeal again can update it then. It's only 1 term ago so it's unlikely much has changed.

[tempe48]

An ed psy assessment can be done within 6 months, so long as they use other tests - its usually the tests themselves, which can't be repeated within 6 months, in case the child remembers them. So for instance, if WISC was done last time, the ed psy could chose to do BAS II next time.

I would not write my parental views with the school SENCO - I would want to do them in peace and quiet at home, with DH (unless you are a single parent) with chance to reflect and revise as many times as necessary. It looks much better if the views come from both parents, if possible IMO.

[sweetteamum]

I would certainly tell them that your going to be doing your own parental report. There is no need to go through that with the SENco.

My daughter had two assessments within 6 months of each other. They just used different tests.