Education psychologist assessment

[Purpletaco]

School put in an ehcp for my son it got agreed to be assessed I have now received an email from school stating an education psychologist will do a virtual assessment on my child next week.
Has anyone had a virtual assessment for their child and if so how did it go? Im just a little confused to how they can do a full assessment and a report if it’s virtual and not in person.
Tia

Speaking as an EP, I had hoped virtual ‘assessments’ went out with Covid times.

I would never write a report for an EHCP without having met the child and observed them in their setting (or home visit if EBSNA). After all, there’s always the chance the case could go to tribunal and I think I would find it tricky to defend my conclusions if I’d never even met the child in question.

Sadly, a lot of freelance EPs are pocketing a fortune from doing these virtual assessments and I think it’s quite cheeky of them not to make the effort to go and meet the child or young person.

Would you feel comfortable replying and asking for an in-person visit?

@groby
thankyou for your reply
yes I am going to ask for an in person assessment as I find it uneasy allowing a stranger to do a report on my child and not meeting them in person as I think a lot can be missed doing it virtually. I was just unsure if this is like the new thing.

My son's EP assessment was carried out remotely recently. My daughter's was carried out in person. I would push for an in person assessment. There was a complete difference in quality and thoroughness

I too would push for an in-person assessment.

my Childs had a ehcp for a few years but always had in person when they write the reports for annual reviews etc .. never heard of a virtual one

Thank you all
i have contacted asking for an in person ep as I don’t feel comfortable it being done virtually as they will not be actually meeting my child. They said the wait is longer but I am happy to wait longer for an in person.

How long is the wait? I think theres 20 weeks from the local authority accepting it till the final draft but they would need the EP report

With a few limited exceptions, the LA has 20 weeks to finalise the EHCP if they are going to issue. Not just a draft.

Our LA still use them routinely. I often advise parents they cannot assess properly unless it's in person imo.

Legally, the wait must be exactly the same. The EP has six weeks to complete their report. This is a legal requirement regardless of waiting lists or a shortage of professionals to carry out the work.

We've just had 2 done virtually. The teams meeting was with EP, parents, SENDCo and TA and he pretty much took our word for it, used everything said by them and added to his very long assessment. Both children got their EHCPs.

Update someone from La has been in contact this morning and an assessment in person will be taking place next week just 2 days after the original virtual one (so not really a wait after all)

The LA appointed EP did my son’s assessment over the phone. Her recommendations were basically no extra support and mainstream (he was out of school due to significant needs and all schools saying they won’t take him as can’t keep him/others safe). The EP literally told me over the phone the LA won’t let her say special school needed. It was appalling. Particularly as we had waited much longer than we were supposed to wait. I got a private EP for evidence for tribunal and he did all these games with blocks etc and my son comes out as lowest centile for processing speed and all kinds of stuff. Significant needs that the LA appointed EP hadn’t even bothered to assess. I’m disgusted they can choose not to assess something then argue a child doesn’t have those needs!!

The EP literally told me over the phone the LA won’t let her say special school needed.

This is correct - we are not allowed to recommend a particular school or say ‘X needs to go to a special school.’

However, it is an EP’s job to describe provision, and it is in doing this that you would describe a special school and its facilities. This would make it very clear to panel that the child’s needs cannot be met in a mainstream school.

But if you don’t do half the tests then it looks like a child has no deficits or needs in those areas. The report doesn’t say x y z not tested so no conclusions can be draw in this area it literally just listed “mother reports” because having never met or spoken to my son that all the information the EP had. If nothing else the report should clarify what was tested instead of read like the full assessment was done and minimal support needs found.

We had an Ed Psych report done for my DS’s EHCP. It was done via zoom with me, his nursery key worker, nursery senco and her. She wrote a report for his EHCP despite having never met my DS. Honestly blew my mind this was even possible. He’s started school now, in reception, and school have just had an ed psych come and assess him, still waiting for the report.