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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Ed Psych & School

34 replies

coolpatterngirl · 21/03/2017 12:40

My youngest has some behaviourial issues which the school have brushed off over the years.

I know there's something up and am desperate to help him. We've enlisted the help of a private Ed Psych to assess him.

I've just found out his teacher and head are having a meeting before and after his assessment. Am I entitled to insist on being present at the meeting? Am I entitled to ask that the assessment take place in our home?

I find it strange that the school are happy to talk to the Ed Psych but not me. I'm trying really hard not to be THAT mother, but I'm really irritated at the school's reluctance to say anything about my son.

OP posts:

blaeberry · 21/03/2017 23:38

Oh, and if the school are discussing your child, their potential need for support and what support that might be, then I would very definitely expect to be involved in the discussion!

if you hadn't guessed; I am THAT parent, but have needed to be.

HeddaGarbled · 21/03/2017 23:47

The EP will be gathering information from the school before the assessment and feeding back informally and asking further questions immediately after the assessment. These aren't exactly "meetings" just information gathering and off the cuff feedback. So, I don't think that you really need to be there. In fact, your presence may inhibit them from full disclosure. Schools are so worried that they are going to be accused of disability discrimination etc that they are cagey and defensive in the presence of parents.

Once the report is written, that's when you need to meet the school staff, to discuss the findings and what support they will put in place.

blaeberry · 21/03/2017 23:49

Hedda this is a private EP and has no business making a full disclosure to anyone but OP!

BackforGood · 21/03/2017 23:50

I would expect any EP worth their salt to meet with you - at home or wherever you prefer, but, I would also expect the EP to talk to the school staff about how the child is in that environment too. I would also expect them to observe in the classroom and see how the child interacts and copes (or doesn't cope) whilst there.
After they have done as much fact finding as they can from different sources both 'reported' and observed first hand, is when they will start pulling together their findings.

blaeberry · 21/03/2017 23:53

Sorry - just realised you meant the school making a full disclosure to the EP not the other way round. Though I would be surprised if this happened with a private EP. EPs are professionals so do not write stuff just because the parent wants it it they may well write stuff schools/LA do not want!

user1490123259 · 21/03/2017 23:57

Its very kind of the head and the teacher to give up their time to speak to the ed psych. Do you think they will speak more freely without you there?

lottieandmia · 21/03/2017 23:57

I agree blaeberry

lottieandmia · 22/03/2017 09:22

User - it's strange that the head won't answer the OP's emails though isn't it?

IamFriedSpam · 22/03/2017 11:41

You certainly couldn't have the assessment done at home because often the behaviour is only apparent in a busy class room setting surrounded by other children, it's important to see how he interacts in this environment. The Ed psych should give you a questionnaire to fill in detailing what you think the main issues are, what your child's strengths and weakness are, how he developed as a baby etc.

I don't think you should be overly worried as the ed Psych will be very used to schools that write off problems as poor parenting or just general naughtiness when actually there's a deeper issue.

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