Private assesments

[carmen66]

Does anybody know how to go about a private year 4 assessment? My DD seems to be struggling at school & I'm having problems every night with her not understanding her homework so I would like her assessed just to see if she is strfuggling or being lazy .

Have you spoken to her teachers ? An Ed Psych assessment could cost you upwards of £500. School may have a list of those others have used and/or whose opinions they value or if state could refer her to the LA one.

Hi Lizs, she attends a private school so I really don't want to get them involved by rubbing them up the wrong way.. A few parents have had their children assessed but I dont know who they done it through...

Why would accessing help and advice from the school you are paying for be rubbing them up the wrong way??? You are perfectly entitled to speak to a teacher!!!! It must be a pretty averge school if they have not already spoken to you about how well, or otherwise, she is doing anyway! I would ask to see her teacher as soon as possible and remember, you are a customer, not a mouse! Also, getting a report will not help if the school is incapable of setting appropriate work for her - as appears to be the case at the moment.

Excuse me ???

I agree with the sentiment of Milly's message.

Have you spoke to the teacher about your concerns? If not, then that really should be the first thing you do.

With a DD in a private school who was struggling and has had assessment I would agree with talking to them.
The school did some initial screening assessment finding a very low processing speed that justified a more in depth external assessment.

Having talked to the school and engaged them with the assessment they were opening to taking up the advice from the assessment and things have improved for DD.

I've just spoken to my school (state) where I have concerns about my DD (yr 4). Although I could go off and get her privately assessed (and probably will) I do feel it's very important to keep the lines of communication open and in any case a decent private assessment will need reports from her school, it isn't just a case of doing tests, they need as much background info as possible about early childhood, pre-school, school, general health, other family members with relevant conditions etc. They normally ask both school and parents to fill in questionnaires (I've been through this with an older DC too).

I'm not saying she's having learning difficulties. The school she attends is very academic and I'm just wondering if it's the right school for her.There are private schools that go at a much slower pace..I have spoken to the teacher but I also feel that some children get left behind if their not one of the top sets...I only asked a question

In what way would it rub them up the wrong way . Surely they need to be involved or they may dismiss any report or recommendations. Any good ed psych would want to ask questions of them or possibly even observe her in the classroom, depending on the concerns. Are you worried they may ask you to withdraw her if they choose not to accommodate her needs?

Thank you for your reply Lizs but I can't go into detail

I'm not entirely sure that your question can be answered by a private assessment. I do these assessments, and usually it's for children who are having difficulties keeping pace with their peers, or parents with children they think may be gifted in some area.

If your child is of good ability and is working broadly in line with her potential, then there's not a good deal more a private assessment will tell you. It definitely won't tell you if she's being 'lazy'.

Is she happy at school? Does she think she's doing ok?

That's the problem I feel that she is struggling with the work & am not sure if the school is right for her...I always have to support her with homework .She's a laid back child and she seems happy but does tend to get frustrated with the work.

You will find a private psychologist through the British Psychological Society website. You should expect to pay around £500.

I'm definitely not against assessment of this kind - I know it can be very useful, I think it's worth you being very clear with your psych what it is you need from any assessment.

www.achippp.org.uk/ and
www.bps.org.uk/bpslegacy/dcp

However I do think you are being naïve in thinking it will be helpful in isolation. You need to stop supporting her homework and let the school see what she can achieve , or not, on her own . Teachers know when parents are doing it for their child helping as it won't match what is done in class. If there is an issue they can't differentiate if you cover it up. Most Ed Psychs won't recommend, or not recommend, particular schools.

Does the CT feel she is struggling with the work?

Of course I don't do the work for her we just read through it together if she doesn't understand it .Last week on two occasions she got most of her maths incorrect I have been in touch with the teacher & she feels my dd finds some concepts difficult

Well it would appear you and CT agree... No?

Being defensive with people who are trying to help won't do you any favours and frankly if the CT feels she is struggling you have the right to ask what school are doing to support this. Be that fee paying or state.

If you have already done this and feel they are not supporting her then by all means look for another school. Just bear in mind that you have already said she is happy where she is so would that help.

Whether or not you think she's got learning difficulties, I struggle to see what an assessment will tell you with no input from the school. Even if you just want an assessment of her cognitive ability to see if her achievements are in line with her potential, you need to know what her school's assessment of her achievement is.

What would your thoughts be about moving her? If it is not a problem logistically then maybe you need to start visiting some other schools to see if you think they might be a more suitable setting for her. How does she feel about school generally?

I am confused about what you are asking and what you want. She is not doing well at school, and you think the school moves too fast for her? Surely it is moving at school speed? So she is not able to learn at a normal speed, but you don't think she has learning difficulties? You want her assessed, although you haven't explained what for, and want want to keep it secret from the people you are paying to educate her? Sorry, but I can't make any sense of this.

The problem may not be your daughter, but other children in her class receiving private tuition in addition to school. This is very common now, even in private primary schools. Those kids don't have private tuition often feel they are stupid and unable to catch up.

I second Sunflower - all the DCs at DDs very academic school in the top maths set are tutored in some form or another. It has become obvious to me that the reason the school gets such amazing primary results is less to do with their teaching and much more to do with the extensive parental support.

The main problem is the pace, maths topics are covered so briefly that even bright children need more practice of the topic. If you approach maths like reading and do a little everyday with your DD you might find she no longer struggles at school.

If she is struggling with more than maths then she would need to put in quite a lot of extra time, in which case moving her to a school with a slower (and more thorough) pace, might be a good idea.

The problem with private schools is that they are business's and they don't have much time or resource (cost money and less profit) to help slower children. You need to raise your concerns with the school, and ask them what they will do to help your daughter. After all, you are paying them. If they won't help, then you should change your daughter's school as it can do her more harm than good staying there.

I also struggled (always last and very low self esteem) in a famous private primary school, where nearly all my peers had private tutors, but I thrived in a secondary comprehensive state school. I now have two degrees, and became an international consultant. No one can call me stupid anymore.