Assessment for non UK based child

[Smorgs]

DS1, almost six, is having a lot of problems at school. We live in France and he attends the local french school along with one afternoon at an English school. Both report difficulties with his behaviour when it comes to sitting down and doing written work. He frequently drops to the floor and rolls around. He won't do the work unless he is led through it one to one by an adult. We have applied for an assistant at his main school, and a very kind volunteer is trying to assist him at the English school. He has been diagnosed with hyperacousia and wears ear plugs to help him filter sound. However, the French system is proving very slow to get any further diagnosis and I'd prefer him to be assessed in his first language. Can anyone suggest a specialist or clinic we could go to? Around London, Cambridge or Bristol would be best. Either private or NHS as we still pay UK NI. How long does it usually take to be assessed? Do you think we could get him assessed during one trip back for a week or so or would it mean multiple trips back? Thanks in advance.

[eminfrance]

Hi smorgs. We're also an expat family living in France with concerns about DS2 who is 6 years old and just started in CP, we feel possibly high functioning autism and/or ADHD. We've struggled to get any sort of help here and I think we've accepted now that we really need to return to the UK permanently to get the help for him that he may need.
Yes you can get an assessment in the UK, I am heading back to the UK next month with DS2 as I got an appointment at MPA in Brighton - they offer a full neurodevelopmental assessment, it costs around £800 - we'll be there roughly 9.30 until 3.30 and, following the tests, we will go out with the assessor for lunch, a shop etc so that he can see DS2 in various scenarios. They have been really helpful on the email exchange so I'm hopeful that we'll know after that what the challenges are for DS2 and we can then start looking for a suitable school for him. I know there are other companies offering similar assessments - one I looked at in London was the London Children's Practice.
I hope that helps. Feel free to message me, I know how difficult this situation is.

[Smorgs]

Hi eminfrance,
That is really helpful thank you. Sorry for hear you are going through similar. Yes, DH and I have also discussed returning to the UK as France doesn't have the best reputation for SEN does it?
DS1 is also in CP. It is such a jump from maternelle isn't it? Concerns were raised in maternelle (mainly because he didn't speak any french for two years) but when we had him assessed by the local CMP team they definitely ruled out autism and said he just needed to mature. We have just got a new appointment at another CMP team in the town we now live in and will see what they have to say.
Have you joined the Facebook group Special Needs in France?

[cakesandtea]

Smorgs,
could you please explain a little about the French system in case we will have to relocate. Does it start with the school referring to CMP? What triggers the referral, can parents ask for it, just go to CMP directly? Can you get a private assessment in France with any doctor you want (they don't have the NHS referral and gate keeping system, do they?)
Would CMP listen to those private reports?
What do CMP do / decide? Is it the gate for the money for the school to put in place provisions? What provisions are possible?

What is the main frustration with the school?
Many thanks

[Smorgs]

Hi cakesandtea
The French system is very different to UK in that the onus is on the parent to organise everything. There are no SEN coordinators as far as I'm aware. Usually, if a school has concerns they will organise a meeting of the equipe educative, to which parents are invited. There is often the school doctor present, school psychologist (who are a bit hit and miss in my experience), teachers, ALAE/CLAE staff (people who look after them at lunch time and before/after school). Everyone will say their piece about what concerns they have and what steps forward can be taken. It's then up to parents to either seek medical advice or referral.
Yes, in theory anyone can go straight to any specialist and get an appointment but usually there are long waiting lists and it's quicker to get a referral via your GP/medecin traitant or paediatrician (most kids in France see a paediatrician for normal check ups and vaccins.)
The CMP is the local child psychology centre. Not every town has one. It's a free service so has a slight reputation for not being quite as high quality as seeing a specialist in a big hospital. Usually you see one or the other, but I'm sure you could take a report from one to the other.
If you have concerns as a parent then you can seek an assessment by CMP or a specialist by yourself, there is no need to wait for school to raise concerns.
If your child needs additional support then you can apply for an aide de vie scolaire (AVS) from the Maison des Enfants Handicapees and they will decide if they will allocate you funding. In our school, children with special needs are taken into small groups together at certain points of the day and taught together, in mixed age groups. Not sure how that's decided, but I assume there would need to be a diagnosis.
Main frustrations with school arethat classes are big (30) with only the teacher. It's very rigid, not much adaptation for different learning styles, very academic and always the threat of redoublement (repeating the year) if they don't meet the learning requirements of the year.
Hope that helps a bit

[Smorgs]

Hi just an update, we visited the child and family practice in London this week for an assessment and they confirmed ADHD. This was very interesting as most people in France were suggesting autism, but the team in London think any autistic symptoms he has are due to the ADHD and hopefully when he is treated they will disappear.
It was a fairly stressful day for DS as it was a new place, new people and the assessment ran from 1-5pm but we and his school completed lengthy assessment forms beforehand to aid the diagnosis.
It was also expensive, at over £3,000 but luckily our health insurance in France paid (We got the doctor to write a letter saying he needed to be assessed in his native language). Also we were very happy being seen by this particular team as they are very experienced and work at Great Ormond Street Hospital, which is a centre of excellence for dealing with ASD and ADHD.
Hope that helps for anyone reading. Now to find a French doctor who will prescribe medication...