How to get ADHD assessment without involvement from school (home educated)

[BillywigStings]

We are a home educating family and have been closely watching the experiences of another home ed family trying to get their son an adhd assessment through the nhs. They have been refused a referral because they require input from the child’s teacher and obviously their son is not in school and they can’t accept his mother as the teacher because she is also his parent. My child is nearly 5 and because of seeing this other family struggle I am seriously considering a private assessment. I just wondered if any other home educators managed to get an adhd assessment, because from a quick google search it seems like private assessments also want to communicate with a school as well as parents.

[AspergersMum]

They need to fight this with CAMHS. It is very much possible to get the diagnosis as a homeschooler, we certainly have. Have they (CAMHS) considered using anyone else for the teacher form (although I filled it out myself) like a temporary tutor? Tutoring just for backup on a form may end up costing less than a private assessment. Nothing wrong with a private assessment although then you may be tied to private annual reviews for the purpose of getting medication.

[AspergersMum]

My advice is don't give up though. They should ask to speak to someone higher up on the CAMHS ADHD pathway. Also if they didn't get a referral thru their GP, that is a good starting point as you can then take a checklist in to back up what you are saying, and the child if that would help.

[BillywigStings]

Thank you. The tutoring idea is really helpful, I’ll see what I can do with that