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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

anyone heard of a 4.5 year development assessment?

27 replies

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 21:16

had a phone call this morning from council office saying my dd 4.5 (august birthday so r year) needs a 4.5 yr development assessment and aomeone is coming to the house tomorrow to do it. dd will be at school and apparently this doesn't matter!
anyone heard of this before? she's had a 3 year preschool assessment and all was well so why are we having another?

OP posts:

MrsMushroom · 13/03/2013 21:17

No! I would be very suspicious! WHo was this "someone"? Only your Health visitor or GP should inform you of "checks"!

MrsMushroom · 13/03/2013 21:17

What area/country are you in?

ilikesweetpeas · 13/03/2013 21:19

My daughter is just 5 and neither she, or any of her friends, have had this. Do you have a contact phone number? I would cancel, or not let them in. If the school have any concerns re her development they will raise them with you

Bluelightsandsirens · 13/03/2013 21:23

I've never heard of a 4.5 check and have 3 DC, one just turning 5.

Original poster

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 21:24

it was the council that called! i am having problems with my ds (6) wrt adhd/asd so initially thought it was for him but she kept saying dds name. it alarmed me that she didn't know dd was already at school though.

OP posts:

MrsMushroom · 13/03/2013 21:25

They said they were the council? Or did they say they were Social Services?

MrsMushroom · 13/03/2013 21:26

Did she give a name and contact number? What time is she coming?

If I were you OP....I would report this caller to the police in the morning...UNLESS she said she was from Social Services.

Original poster

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 21:34

I am in Lincolnshire. She gave her name and said she'd tried calling before. True but I'd missed the calls. I didn't really listen to what she was saying as I wasn't suspicious until I came off the phone! She did not say social services.
Could I have arranged another check when she had her last one at 3.5? I am waiting for someone to contact me about ds but she definitely said dd's name and she is of the right age bracket.

I privately rent...could this just be a cover story for someone to just come and pay a visit? Or would they be more upfront?

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/03/2013 21:34

Never heard of this one either.

Original poster

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 21:35

She said she was from a nearby nhs trust but the number that came up on phone was the local council number

OP posts:

grabaspoon · 13/03/2013 21:37

No. you don't get 3.5 assessments. you have 2 year check and baseline assessment in reception done by the teacher. there are no other checks and any checks re children should be dome with children present. i work in the early years and would be domecalling her back in the am to confirm what she wants.

Bluelightsandsirens · 13/03/2013 21:38

I would call the number in the morning and establish what the visit is actually for.

Original poster

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 21:39

I don't have a direct number and not sure I can call the council and ask for 'Hannah!'

OP posts:

OpheliasWeepingWillow · 13/03/2013 21:39

I wouldn't open the door to them TBH. Sounds v strange

Original poster

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 21:41

Could it have been arranged by the teacher if she feels there could be a problem (but as yet hasn't let me know!) and this person could be discussing it as part of an assessment?

OP posts:

MisForMumNotMaid · 13/03/2013 21:43

I have 3 DC and the eldest is Autistic. On more than one occasion I have received appointments for DS2 that are actually meant for DS1.

Educational Psychologists in our area work out of the council offices and do home visits to discuss SEN matters as its more relaxed for the parent and they can get their view across outside the school environment.

Why not phone the main council number in the morning and ask the receptionist which potential departments it could be.

You could google the social services number to see if that would have been the council one. Its not in my area.

Original poster

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 21:48

Thanks MisFor. My initial thoughts were that it was for ds. We have just started the road to diagnosis and am waiting for a call to have home visits so hopefully this is the case and if so I'd rather he wasn't here for the first visit so I'm free to discuss and ask questions! Plus ds and dd are born 1day apart (although 2 years in between) so that could also have caused a mix up! It just threw me when she said dd's name and age. Could it be for dd and they are coming to discuss any concerns if there is question about ds?

OP posts:

MisForMumNotMaid · 13/03/2013 21:58

Unfortunately these departments are so stretched that mistakes happen. My DS has a 'friend' or more a child with whom he associates with the same diagnosis. They share initials and are born one week apart, live in the same postcode. It also leads to confusion.

Make the phone call in the morning, a friendly receptionist would help you play detective with first name and some basic information to tell you which department it could be. The whole NHS out of a council office really does shout out EDPsyc to me though.

Anyone professional at your door will have ID. If they don't either close the door or say somethings come up/ you have to go out and could they leave a card for you to reschedule.

Original poster

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 22:03

I think it's a wait til the appointment time as I called the council when I had a missed call from them and the unhelpful receptionist said she couldn't possibly trace each call that left the building so if it was important they would call me back. Hope it is about ds. Can't see why dd would need any extra assessments or help other than being a filthy pants pooer but that's for another thread!

OP posts:

olivertheoctopus · 13/03/2013 22:10

How can they assess her if she's at school?! Sounds weird to me

MrsMushroom · 13/03/2013 22:10

I would still be very wary OP. It was a council number definitely? Is there someone who could be at home with you during the appointment?

I would also call the council number in the morning and tell them you want Hannah....

Original poster

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 22:12

Definitely the council telephone number, I am going to ask dd's teacher in the morning whether she has heard of anything. Failing that, I'm going to pop down to the council offices before the appointment

OP posts:

MrsMushroom · 13/03/2013 23:10

Oh good idea. Yes...tell them you're concerned incase the call was not from someone valid...and let them know you think the only possibility is that they've mixed up your children.

Original poster

bananananacoconuts · 13/03/2013 23:14

yes will do. thanks for the advice. can't sleep now, it's racing round my head!

OP posts:

MrsMushroom · 13/03/2013 23:19

It's bound to be what the others said...a mix up to do with your DS..it's probably HIS assesment.

But you're doing the right thing for sure. You can't be too careful and this shows that they're not being organised and clear in their arrangements.

Try to chill....have a drink and a wander....read for a bit.x

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