Page 2 | School not telling parents their child has suspected autism.

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 2024-06-15T13:08:47+00:00

The SENCO of our primary school has some very apparently thought that my child has been on the autistic spectrum. I was surprised to find they don’t mention this to parents. Is it reasonable for them not to mention this to families?

Rawfruit · 18/06/2024 19:07

spanieleyes · 18/06/2024 19:03

And it even says on the health authority website that GPs can refer, but they can't. If they try, it is refused at triage and they are told to send parents to schools. There was uproar amongst schools when the "policy" was introduced as we were given no notice and no choice. But that's what happens.

So the autism assessment team are saying this?🤔

spanieleyes · 18/06/2024 19:03

And it even says on the health authority website that GPs can refer, but they can't. If they try, it is refused at triage and they are told to send parents to schools. There was uproar amongst schools when the "policy" was introduced as we were given no notice and no choice. But that's what happens.

norfolkbroadd · 18/06/2024 18:59

Further proof that OP is telling whoppers here: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg128/resources/autism-spectrum-disorder-in-under-19s-recognition-referral-and-diagnosis-pdf-35109456621253

Rawfruit · 18/06/2024 18:57

norfolkbroadd · 18/06/2024 18:55

It isn't true @Rawfruit in any area. This is my area of study and expertise and local authorities don't have the power to do this.

It would be nuts if they did.

norfolkbroadd · 18/06/2024 18:55

It isn't true @Rawfruit in any area. This is my area of study and expertise and local authorities don't have the power to do this.

Rawfruit · 18/06/2024 18:55

spanieleyes · 18/06/2024 18:54

A large one!

What area?

spanieleyes · 18/06/2024 18:54

A large one!

Rawfruit · 18/06/2024 18:52

What area is that?

Rawfruit · 18/06/2024 18:50

spanieleyes · 18/06/2024 18:50

But it's what happens! We are not lying and I'm not sure why you think we would. In my area GPs cannot refer. Schools have to.

So CAMHS don’t?

spanieleyes · 18/06/2024 18:50

But it's what happens! We are not lying and I'm not sure why you think we would. In my area GPs cannot refer. Schools have to.

Rawfruit · 18/06/2024 18:47

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 18/06/2024 18:42

It’s true in my area. Otherwise the 800 odd parents in my local group have misunderstood or are telling me fibs.

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But why would “authorities” stipulate only schools. It doesn’t make sense. Often CAMHS and parents are better placed to refer. Everybody should know by now that girls can present differently and mask in schools.

I can believe some parents have gone to their gp and been told they need more evidence from school or punt it back to school if it’s school based behaviour. But authorities saying it can only go through school doesn’t make sense.

Original poster

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 18/06/2024 18:44

norfolkbroadd · 18/06/2024 18:22

Many parents think it's schools that diagnose autism. They don't, and never have. Neither do they diagnose asthma or cerebral palsy.

If you've had suspicions about your child's development and have sat around drumming your fingers waiting for a teacher or SENCO to kickstart some sort of diagnosis for your child then you are failing them. Of course, some parents have absolutely no idea, and some children mask very very well, so it isn't always apparent. Those parents aren't failing their children.

That’s a bit of an aggressive remark to allege people are “drumming their fingers” and “you are failing them”. There’s no need for that.

OP posts:

Original poster

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 18/06/2024 18:42

norfolkbroadd · 18/06/2024 18:22

This isn't true.

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It’s true in my area. Otherwise the 800 odd parents in my local group have misunderstood or are telling me fibs.

OP posts:

norfolkbroadd · 18/06/2024 18:22

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 18/06/2024 01:54

In some areas though the authorities stipulate you should only go through schools. I know it’s not like that in your area. But there are different processes in different areas

This isn't true.

norfolkbroadd · 18/06/2024 18:22

Many parents think it's schools that diagnose autism. They don't, and never have. Neither do they diagnose asthma or cerebral palsy.

If you've had suspicions about your child's development and have sat around drumming your fingers waiting for a teacher or SENCO to kickstart some sort of diagnosis for your child then you are failing them. Of course, some parents have absolutely no idea, and some children mask very very well, so it isn't always apparent. Those parents aren't failing their children.

Pantaloons99 · 18/06/2024 18:20

@Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil it's all part of the gaslighting and parental blame which they will absolutely employ in order to manage the workload. They also don't even have the provision there when kids do get diagnosed. I didn't have the strength for a fight ref EHCP. I knew I'd be fighting a very long time with the ridiculous he's absolutely fine nonsense again.

Luckily his current teacher is very understanding. He's about to start secondary school which I am obviously concerned about. I'm sure this attendance crap is a response to the knowledge that schools are failing kids. So instead we will blame you and punish you.

Hope so much things change under a new Government.

Original poster

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 18/06/2024 18:15

Pantaloons99 · 18/06/2024 16:14

Erm plenty! The NHS says all sorts of things that it doesn't deliver. Wasn't there a recent advertising campaign about mental health and going to your doctor for help. There is no resource at all bar tablets and we all know this.
The reality is quite different to the perception or the publicity.

My son is Autistic/ ADHD. GP referred me to parenting classes 🤦‍♀️. SENCO is overloaded and there's something wrong with her approach which is very much ' best not to get a diagnosis. ' They blocked my access to an NHS assessment. It was as clear as day in the private assessment. Fortunately we have the diagnosis now.

People who are not at the mercy of these systems are absolutely clueless to the reality. It's the same with hospitals right now. You want to be at their mercy and spend a few weeks in there and you will see how it really is.

It is I accept still a postcode lottery where some are much more supportive than others.

Gaslighting is however the most used approach right now across the board based on every experience I read about and my own.

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Yes I feel there is not a willingness now to accept that your child needs help. The words “doesn’t meet the threshold” are used a lot and referrals now bounce back. Or “a letter was sent out and you needed to write back and say you still wanted to be in the waiting list and we didn’t hear from you so Little Timmy is no longer on the list”. The list you have been on for two years and the invisible letter.

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Pantaloons99 · 18/06/2024 18:15

@Rawfruit ah CAMHS! Because our school SENCO is so appalling, the school provided no supporting info for us so there was no way I would have accessed the assessment.
It's awful because the teachers knew. When we had a private assessment I paid for it to include an in school assessment and observation. They picked up loads of obvious things and one TA was very open and honest about struggles.
Yet the SENCO said no problem a few months before all this and based on them lying, we didn't get an assessment. I believe in the same situation it would happen again because it would be just me.
Dad was in denial unfortunately.

Son is Autistic/ADHD and they also believe tourettes. With all that there was no one supporting me.

Original poster

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 18/06/2024 18:10

Rawfruit · 16/06/2024 08:08

Obviously only those qualified should diagnose however I don’t think parents should be allowed to refuse going through the process if professionals think it would be helpful as late diagnosis can be hugely damaging. I also think schools should be held to account if parents think a diagnosis is needed or if they ignore signs due to masking and otherwise “good” behaviour in school.

I knew something wasn’t right with my dd and was ignored and made to feel like shit We have subsequently had to go through several years with a mentally unwell teen, countless hospital admissions and 3x NHS ND diagnosis. The psych treating my dd commented on how big an impact her masking , ND and experiences at school as an undiagnosed ND child lead to her struggles.

I went to the GP first for dyspraxia which got a referral for paeds and her diagnosis. I wish I’d done the same for my suspicions re autism and ADHD. Sadly even though she was given an OT program via paeds and diagnosed as severely dyspraxia her primary school even ignored that berating her during PE lessons for not trying hard enough. When she fell apart and became very unwell in secondary school CAMHS then referred her for an autism diagnosis followed by an ADHD diagnosis and an EHCP.

Autism in girls can present differently in girls.

I’m sorry you all had to go through this. What a nightmare for you all.

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Original poster

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 18/06/2024 18:06

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 18/06/2024 18:05

People cannot get a referral as school are often gatekeepers. Also it takes two-three years to get to PALS.

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Whoops sorry meant CAMHs! And you didn’t say CAMHs

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Original poster

Biscuitsaretheworkofthedevil · 18/06/2024 18:05

Rawfruit · 18/06/2024 14:45

So you go to PALS , that’s what they’re there for. NHS professionals don’t always refer for all sorts of things when they should.

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People cannot get a referral as school are often gatekeepers. Also it takes two-three years to get to PALS.

OP posts:

spanieleyes · 18/06/2024 17:44

I would be more than happy for our local GPs to do adhd/ASD referrals for diagnosis. But they won't. So, as SENCO, I have to do them instead. If I refused because a GP " should", where would that leave my parents?
As an aside, it wasn't schools who decided they were best placed to do referrals, the local health authority decided GPs were " too busy" to make referrals so told schools they had to instead!

Rawfruit · 18/06/2024 17:15

Pantaloons99 · 18/06/2024 17:14

@Rawfruit that is such a positive thing to hear. I have to admit I have always found PALS useless. If you are prepared to and have the energy to fight then you can get somewhere then!

I'm really glad that happened and I imagine felt like a big achievement. Kudos to you for not giving up 🙏

I couldn't find the strength to fight in our case. I was also really worried the NHS would mess it up and miss his obvious Autism/ ADHD.

Hopefully your post will inspire others in this position to push back!

Exactly! I made a big mistake not doing this with my other child.

Pantaloons99 · 18/06/2024 17:14

@Rawfruit that is such a positive thing to hear. I have to admit I have always found PALS useless. If you are prepared to and have the energy to fight then you can get somewhere then!

I'm really glad that happened and I imagine felt like a big achievement. Kudos to you for not giving up 🙏

I couldn't find the strength to fight in our case. I was also really worried the NHS would mess it up and miss his obvious Autism/ ADHD.

Hopefully your post will inspire others in this position to push back!

Rawfruit · 18/06/2024 17:04

Pantaloons99 · 18/06/2024 16:14

Erm plenty! The NHS says all sorts of things that it doesn't deliver. Wasn't there a recent advertising campaign about mental health and going to your doctor for help. There is no resource at all bar tablets and we all know this.
The reality is quite different to the perception or the publicity.

My son is Autistic/ ADHD. GP referred me to parenting classes 🤦‍♀️. SENCO is overloaded and there's something wrong with her approach which is very much ' best not to get a diagnosis. ' They blocked my access to an NHS assessment. It was as clear as day in the private assessment. Fortunately we have the diagnosis now.

People who are not at the mercy of these systems are absolutely clueless to the reality. It's the same with hospitals right now. You want to be at their mercy and spend a few weeks in there and you will see how it really is.

It is I accept still a postcode lottery where some are much more supportive than others.

Gaslighting is however the most used approach right now across the board based on every experience I read about and my own.

Show quote history

I had to do a PALs complaint for one of my dc’s autism diagnosis and re their MH treatment not happening.I did a PALs complaint which was upheld and got both. About to do it again for treatment for another child. PALs can be used in an advisory role too.