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Original poster

Ed Psych assessment at 15

34 replies

Jazamatax · 09/08/2023 22:54

Hi there, first time poster here.

I'm worried about my daughter who is going into year 11. She has a diagnosis of ADHD since January. She has been medicated since then and has gradually uptitrated dose to the max. As per doctors advice. It has made some difference but not huge. She's definitely more able to focus with than without the meds.

I'm worried that it's not the entire story. She has always had difficulty focussing, concentrating and being organised. Her year 7 sats were very high (130-140 range) but she's just not able to get started or consistently study. Her grades have always been completely all over the place. From very high to very low in the same subjects often in the same set of exams with no clear rhyme or reason as to why.

She's getting very demoralised and demotivated. I wonder if we're missing something. Getting her to think about any study for GCSE's is extremely difficult. She doesn't see the point and her mocks were a disaster.

Anyone have any experience of Ed psych assessment at this age?

In context of adhd she is allowed to sit exams in a separate room and have breaks. No extra time allowed as her "processing" was assessed as low normal range.

Am at a loss as to how to help and feel like endlessly pushing her to study is just making her miserable.

Help!!!

OP posts:
OvertakenByLego · 10/08/2023 10:58

Access arrangements have to be the normal way of working, so in the upcoming year it is important DD receives the access arrangements. I would request another meeting with the SENCO and also speak to the exams officer.

Good EPs will have waiting lists, but you could look at Catharine Pierce, Vivienne Clifford, Patsy Kershaw, Mike Hymans, Jemma Levy, Ruth Birnbaum, Valerie Hero, Amanda Furness. There’s many others too.

Foxesandsquirrels · 10/08/2023 10:51

Sadly I'm not surprised. My DD has an EHCP so I'm very used to badgering the school for everything. DM me if you want.
Ed psych report can include access arrangements too. Form 8 is not always required as per the above poster.

Original poster
Jazamatax · 10/08/2023 10:31

Sorry should say

She was off sick for one of her English exams

OP posts:
Original poster
Jazamatax · 10/08/2023 10:30

Not had a formal Ed psych review. We had to go privately for the ADHD assessment and it was triggered in response to the report from the psychiatrist. I've met the school SENCO. She just talked and talked and talked. Didn't feel like there was much listening or attempt at understanding from her.

Despite the adhd diagnosis and option for a quiet room, she did not actually get these in mocks. It apparently didn't occur to anyone to make sure this provision was in place. I could have kicked myself for not checking.
She said as sick for one of her English exams so did that separately.
She got a 3 in the one in the big hall (the girl sitting next to her was breathing do she couldn't focus!) and a 6 in the one she did in a quiet place.
It clearly matters.

I have e mailed a couple of places re: an assessment, but any advice is gratefully received.
Even if it helps her to understand why she thinks differently, it might help her self esteem/confidence.

OP posts:
OvertakenByLego · 10/08/2023 10:17

A good Ed Psych assessment will help. A good report will give strategies to support needs rather than only stating needs.

As DD has ADHD, the rules for extra time are different to those for applications under the learning difficulties route and a Form 8 is not required. You can see the JCQ guidance here on pg 36.

Foxesandsquirrels · 10/08/2023 10:06

Who tested her for extra time? Was it an ed psych? I would personally contact the ed psyc and ask these questions. If they're a good one they won't rip you off and will tell you to leave it if it's not worth it. I have contact details for a relatively affordable one in London if you want.

Your daughter has had many many years of unmedicated ADHD and very often this leads to that sort of behaviour in girls. They present so differently to boys. My DD also started on meds in Feb and we had to tweak them a lot. She still has trouble actually starting tasks but that's quite normal, esp where confidence is a huge issue for girls at this point.

Original poster
Jazamatax · 10/08/2023 09:40

Thanks for your responses.

She massively struggles to start anything. I know that's a feature of ADHD but even with meds it's a big issue. She spends significantly more time procrastinating in advance of a task than the task actually takes. This applies for anything she doesn't really want to do, not just school work.
Maybe I'm expecting too much.
She's an unconventional thinker and has never fitted into the school system. I feel like we just have to survive this year and then see what her grades are and go from there.

Really just wondering what an Ed psych assessment will offer. It's expensive, so if it tells me she's an unconventional thinker who struggles with task initiation due to x, then does that really help?

OP posts:
Foxesandsquirrels · 10/08/2023 09:35

My DD is the same age and she just had another EP assessment in April. Her last one was in 2018 so ages ago. It's incredibly helpful but does depend on how thorough it is.
What other worries do you have?

Thesoundofmusic23 · 10/08/2023 00:11

Similar child and I would be interested too. Sorry not to offer advice except to say it sounds very familiar.