Question for parents from a ed. consultant

[IvysTowers]

I am looking to gauge opinions on this..

As part of my work I assess children for SpLDs and also advise parents on specific learning difficulties, choosing the best local schools and things like that.

I have a website which clearly states that I can't give advice by phone etc as an unpaid consultation, but I still get calls from parents- all very nice and polite parents!- who start the conversation with 'I just want to ask you about......' and before I know it they are wanting the very information that they would need to pay for in a consultation.

I've made it very clear on my website what I can and can't do for free, but I still get calls and emails at all times of my working day, asking 'Do you think my child has an SpLD etc... and I'm going to take up 30 minutes of your time just asking you to listen while I explain their symptoms/ behaviour.' or 'can you give me some tips for my child to manage XYZ' then when I say yes, but you need to book an appt, they disappear.

I don't like to be rude- I'm not!- but to me this is the same thing as me phoning a local solicitor and asking' can you give me some ( unpaid) advice about what to do with my neighbour's fence/boundary/ overgrowing trees...' etc.

There seems to be a mis match between what parents think it's ok to ask for free, and what is reasonable, IMO.

As a parent would you find it acceptable to be told early on in such a conversation that I cannot advise without an appt etc. and what words would you find helpful/acceptable?

How hard is it to get them to appreciate this?!

I agree. I wouldn't contact you again with that reply.

Are you a qualified teacher (degree/PGCE or BA/BEd)?

Why would parents pay to see you? Why would they not go through the school to the EP free of charge?

To answer the query about my training and qualifications- YES to all of that!

I've been doing this for almost 40 years, very successfully, combining p/t in schools and a private practice - lately mainly the latter. Have now moved it up a level from word of mouth, to having a website.

The reason parents don't go through the school and EP there is that many schools won't- and there is often a 6 month wait.

I think what some posters don't 'get' is that this is a business - and although I care about my clients and children very much, I have over the years been 'used' by some parents who try to pick my brains as much as they can, without paying for professional expertise. THese are the parents who might call a helpline and get some info from a volunteer who is not trained, so then they look around and find someone qualified but expect them to offer a free 'helpline' too.

I've taken the useful comments on board so thanks- but am going to leave this now, thanks.

You do come across as quite defensive on here and I wonder if that comes across on your website and email responses. For example, your reply to the question about your qualifications sounds as if you're annoyed by the question. As a prospective parent, I would feel more reassured if you said what those qualifications actually are. You've had a lot of good help on here but are still talking about parents using you and posters here not understanding you run a business. We do understand. Several posters here -myself included- run businesses and part of building clients trust is providing them with some information up front. Please don't ignore all the advice you've been given.

I think the problem is that you are offering a service that parents expect to obtain-and usually can obtain- from the state sector without charge.

If people are coming to you as they feel let down by the state school professionals-CT/HT/Senco/EP etc, they will need reassurance they aren't paying money for old rope. I would want to know your exact qualifications-not a sniffy defensive reply saying, 'well, of course, I've got all those things'. I'd also want you to tell me about your proven track record.

Nothing I've read has made me think you have anything special to offer and I suspect that's what other parents think too; that's probably why your business is not going to plan.

I think what some posters don't 'get' is that this is a business

You compare yourself to a solicitor but there is a big difference. People cannot get the advice a solicitor gives, elsewhere. You are more like a private doctor or a herbalist/homeopath etc People should be able to get the service you provide free through the LEA (NHS) but may have to wait. If they are choosing not to wait but to pay (ie BUPA doctor) they will want up see exact credentials, testimonials, free initial consultation etc Would you visit a doctor who was as cagey as you are being? Yes, it's a business-that's why you have to try hard to give the customer what they want.

I cpmryy disagree with the idea that because people can get the service for free on the NHS then they expect private professional to do it for free too. And that you should give them lots of free advice.

My business is in the private sector and could be provided by the NHS (note: you don't find herbalists or homeopathy on the NHS!). But the difference between what I do and the NHS is the same that seeing a GP at your medical center or seeing one privately. Ie no r little waiting time, a service that is much professionalised, TIME to spend with you, maybe too the proposal of other type of treatments that can't be provided by the NHS.
And the person will KNOW that which means they also expect better than your average NHS service.

OP in your profession do you routinely do supervision or peer supervision? I think that you would benefit to do something like this to review all the issues surrounding making people at easy in a phone all whilst not giving them a free consultation over the phone. Part if it could on insisting on the very specific work you do with the child to find the best approach to them (ie maybe not one size fits all) whiskt giving them advice, the way one nirmally easily available through blogs etc... Usually people are clever enough to realise there is much more to it and at the same time you won't feel like you are giving away your experience.
You can also think about a free 15mins evaluation where you will go through a simple questionnaire and answer as many question about what you do as possible. They get a taste of how you are working but not everything.
Tbh when I went to see a SALT privately I spent a lot if time with her on the phone. She asked a lot if questions to try and frame what was the problem and find the right tests to do with dc2. She then spend a lot if time again with me to explain what it meant. I appreciated the emotional support a lot as there is very little available out there for the parents themselves (apart MN!)

And the person will KNOW that which means they also expect better than your average NHS service.

That's my point, really. The OP doesn't seem to be offering something worth paying for, or if she is, is marketing it badly.

Well atm there us no NHS service for what the OP is offering so it wont be hard to offer better tbh ...

I was using the NHS as a doctor example. The LEA/EP should be providing this service free.

That's what I'm saying. LEA etc don't. That's why parents are looking for private support.

I think you need to explain that it is beyond your professional ethics to give any advice prior to an appointment with both parent(s) and child.

Can't you talk briefly and then apologise and say you'd love to talk more, but your next appt is here and if they have further questions, you'd be happy to try to help, but sadly it is not possible to accurately diagnose without meeting the child, so would they like to book an appt now or via your website? Then no-one is offended, and less of your time is wasted.

But a secretary would probably make you sound more professional and save you time answering phones! I'd be wary of a 'professional' who answered their own phone.

Very good point Bonsoir

It's not asbout commenting on hos to teach times tables I think. More about being able to explain what is the best way for that child depending on what is going on. A diagnosis quite often can't tell the whole story and two children with a diagnosis of dyslexia will find things difficult in a different way, hence needing a slightly different approach. So you can explain the rough idea but not the details?
Well at least that's how I understand it.