Eek! Cost of a private educational psychology assessment

[SausagesByTheSea]

Good afternoon. I am looking at getting an educational psychology assessment for my son, who is struggling in school, in Year 5. The school does not currently have one linked to them, and long waiting lists of other children with greater need, and gently suggested a private assessment is an option.
I've spoken with one private educational psychologist who does assessments at her home. She sounded friendly and like she knows her stuff. It would be one morning with my son, doing assessment activities and then she writes a report for me and the school. She charges £1250. We are in the South East (London commuter belt). I have left messages with three others, but have not heard back, except one 'I'm full' generic response.
This felt a lot to pay for a morning's work. Does this sound about right or should I keep shopping around and hope I can find someone cheaper?

Bargain.

i am paying £2k. Also SE

Unfortunately yes it is about right - it’s also extremely difficult to get onto even private ed psychs waiting lists at the moment.

One thing to check though is the type of report she will be drafting - and think about what you want to use it for. You don’t want to have to go back and get another report if this one doesn’t meet what you need in 6 months say. Is it to support an EHCp application?

Oh my gosh! I'm clearly in the wrong line of work (although also not that keen on other people's children, so....)

It is actually quite alot of hours to properly prepare, assess and then draft a report. If you break it down to hourly rate then it isn’t so extortionate.

Do be careful though that it is detailed enough for what you need it for.

That is the right price for an ed psych. If you suspect dyslexia a dedicated dyslexia assessor is about half that or less.

www.londonchildrenspractice.com
have used this practice before for dyslexia assessment. Very professional and £650

OP doesn’t want a dyslexia assessment, though. As pp said, dyslexia assessment has a about half the price of an ed psych assessment.

What is he struggling with? What do you suspect? Dyslexia versus ASD or ASHD/ADD have different ways of assessing. I found the two Ed psych reports for my DS unhelpful at best but then we went to a neuro development consultant and he was diagnosed with ASD and ADD. One of the Ed psych reports ruled out ASD categorically….

@MaryMollyPolly they do more than dyslexia. Just an idea to check them out, that’s all

It is expensive we paid £450, 10 years ago.

Forgot to say, our private medical insurance paid some of the cost, about £200, we paid the rest.

I’m not an ed psych but do private assessments in a different field. I can assure that it is a lot more than just a mornings work!

The assessment itself may only be a morning but clinical notes, scorings findings and report writing as well as gaining the background takes a lot of time. I would say an assessment takes me two and a half hours but from referral to finished report and follow up it is more like two full days! Formal standardised assessment kits and scoring forms are expensive and you are paying for an expert opinion and assessment.

This felt a lot to pay for a morning's work

A good, EP assessment will require the EP to spend more than a morning on your case. It requires preparation, the actual assessment and then the report. A good, well written report will take time to write especially if it is to tribunal standard - which if there is any chance you will apply for an EHCNA you need. On that note have you thought about applying for an EHCNA? If the LA agree to assess an EP assessment will be part of the NA - although independent EPs are mostly more in depth than LA assessments and reports.

Thank you for the replies. It is helpful to know what might and might not be helpful. I've looked into EHCP's and I am not sure if this is the road we are likely to go down (school thinks not). He is quite able in many ways and has good reading and writing skills (so I doubt dyslexia) but seems to struggle with information processing, organising his work, remembering things. I am guessing these are the sorts of things an educational psychologist can assess and help us with? We are also looking at secondary schools so would like to know a bit more about how he learns so we can think about what schools might suit him best.

What do your school think? Do they think necessary?

How old is he?

Don’t take the school’s word about an EHCP. Schools often don’t think one is necessary but parents go on to successfully apply themselves.

For that price I would want them to be familiar with writing a report which would properly quantify and specify any SEN provision he might require in case you need it to inform an EHCP.

If it's processing g etc I'd look at your therapy website for your area under the nhs and see if you can self refer.

They can assess for things like dyspraxia and then they can refer on if needs be.

But tbh if the school know what his difficulties are they should be able to out things in place to support him without an assessment. Have they tried visual timetables. Breaking down tasks? Movement breaks. All things they can do and will know work for children with a certain profile of difficulties

Sorry should have said look at occupational therapy assessment

If you contact SOSSEN, they have a list of EPs that they know have worked with other parents.

Having read your update, I think you’d find assessment and recommendations from a paediatric Occupational therapist equally as useful.

I looked at getting my DS a private EPA done. The advice I found was that the school may not abide by it, as it was private, I presume because it may not be rigorous enough or may say what the person paying wants to hear. We ended up sitting in the NHS queue for a diagnosis and going to the school with that, but I didn't want you to risk spending considerable money if the school then declined to work with it.

You actually gave you that advice?

I know prices are rising but I paid £750 in London - 2 years ago