Educational Psychologist

[Busybuzzbee]

My youngest is of reception age and is having extreme behavioral issues. I have been through every channel and it's just taking ages to get anywhere.

Has anyone engaged a private educational psychologist to assess their child? And if so what time frame and what were the costs involved?

TIA

Hi changeforprivacy, no but it was initiated by Ed psy, along with evidence from school, myself, other agencies, then appointments with clinicians and specialists, salt reports etc the Ed psy held my hand through out and explained everything, was in constant communication with me whereas I haven't even had a quick phone call from the Ed psy my youngest DC is under to explain why they believe DC is not on the spectrum.

Pashazade thanks for that, I shall have a look into a clinical psychologist. I have come across a chartered educational psychologist but have no idea what the difference is.

Busy I think schools lean towards Ed psychs (ours certainly did, but appointments were like hens teeth) as they will obviously look at school related behaviour, dyslexia, adhd, stuff that affects their learning, whereas I felt the clinical psych took a much broader approach, looking at my child as a whole and with all the intersecting issues. I could be wrong but that's been my impression

Thank you Pashazade, any information at this stage is helpful and worth investigating. Because I had the luxury of my eldest DC's going so smoothly I just expected it to be the same.
My DC isn't setting out to hurt ppl, aggression is resorted to because communication is difficult for DC and DC is highly anxious and prefers own company.
Everyone other the the current Ed psy believes DC to be on the spectrum, I would rather this not be the case if I am honest with myself, I would rather an easy life if I'm going to be truly honest, having one disabled DC is hard enough and sometimes I get the feeling that I'm putting ppl out by suggesting all is not well with my youngest DC.
I dearly love my children but I feel I'm letting them down because I can't get over this wall I've just smacked into.
I'm starting to understand why other SEN parents I talk to have had the difficulties getting EHCPs/referrals/appointments etc I naively didn't realize that even something as important/essential as a ehcp comes basically down to cost /funding.

Stucknoue in my area CAMHS don't diagnose ASD it's done by SCAT which is a multi agency team that includes an Educational Psychologist, SALT, paediatrician and CAMHS (others depending on need)

Has anyone suggested it may be because he's unable to regulate sensory input? Many of our pupils have specialist programmes to help them regulate from the Occupational Therapy service we employ in school. http://futurestepsconsultancy.co.uk

http://www.epconsultants.org

Norestformrz thank you, that's just it they aren't even looking at anything other than ASD. When DC learnt to walk and even now DC will all of a sudden stop bend over and bang head on the floor. But this is now dismissed attention seeking behaviour even though DC will just do it and once completed will continue along the path ahead. I've always felt it was DC connecting sensory needs to the environment and until that connection is made DC will become more anxious and closed off from the environment around.
Thanks for those websites I will check them out.

Just one thing, you mentioned that your DC was bruised and think this occurred whilst being restrained at school. Please make sure the school is keeping a record of any injuries sustained. If there’s a pattern the Head will be expected to address it under health and safety with the Governing Body.

Herocomplex thank you, I didn't know they were meant to keep records of this I shall definitely be asking.

I think policies differ greatly between LEAs - here the GP's will not start the diagnostic process, it has to come through school, and an Ed psych visit will only be requested once parent have completed a parenting course.

My DS had a short Ed psych visit at Easter last year- she happened to catch him on a particularly good day (which the teacher did emphasise to her), and I heard no more until September when I received a letter to say they had dismissed it from their caseload.

The school are brilliant, very supportive, and happy to keep him on the SEN register and provide extra help even without a formal diagnosis. The SECO also said that the LEA was so underfunded that they were seeing this happen a lot - a short visit, then told they were dismissing from caseload.... at which point the school just re-apply and they go back on again!

It seems like such a waste of everyone's time, but I guess they are under-funded, and understaffed, and if school/parents aren't pushing for them to go back on then it reduces the caseload and makes their stats look better.

We did. It cost £500. In our case it wasn't extreme behaviour but struggling to settle. She was able to come about a month after we enquired although that was a cancellation. She spent a morning at school discussed with the teacher and me then observed DC in their lessons and at playtime and did some testing of aptitude. She the produced a report outlining what she found and offering further resources and guidance.

In our case she said he had a very high iq which might be contribution to issues but he might also be slightly on the asd spectrum but it was certainly not pronounced enough to say (and age can't diagnose anyway). I'm not sure how useful it was it got a bit derailed by the iq test (and I'm not sure really how relevant an iq test at 4 years old really is). We realised on maths he was refusing to do it because it was far too basic but it didn't really shed much light on the social issues (which have improved over time). Going forward although DS is definitely very good at maths I don't really see much evidence of a massive iq (in other areas at school he's good but certainly unexceptional certainly not the best reader in the class, spelling is mediocre etc).

If the issues were more extreme it may have been more helpful.

oreosoreosoreos thank you, apart from the parenting course this is the exact process we have to go through. I know there is underfunding in our area but the school are rufusing to accept this as an issue. I am aware of a severely disabled child that was in our mainstream school for a short time and although the disabilities were very evident even without medical reports the school were very dismissive of what they could do and the childs mother had to apply for ehcp herself even though without constant help this child could not even function in school.

Thanks IceCreamFace, what you discribed was exactly what the Ed psy for my eldest DC did. So when the question mark hung over my youngest and a different Ed psy was asked to assess I was expecting a quick meeting with her to convey history/concerns /observations etc, although my eldest is ASD etc I was not seeking an opinion on this per say...specifically I wanted to know what could be put in place to allow DC to take part in the curriculum and interact socially. Even school conveyed to Ed psy they were desperate for ideas. But we just got school are doing all they can and that's that.
My DC is on the SEN register and now I'm questioning if the Ed psy refuses to acknowledge DC has issues why DC has to remain on the register.
I don't go in to school ranting or raving or demanding my child has this that and the other. I'm just grateful for all the help I was given with dc1 and thought this would be mirrored with dc2, I'm left running in circles because the go to response to any of my simple questions are to send me to GP/Cahms/children's centre's etc all of which have given me a resounding `we cannot help you go back to the school'.

Can you contact the EP you used previously? And ask them to do a private assessment? Sounds like you had a good relationship.

Thanks Lara53, after some research today I've found out the Ed psy that dealt with dc1 does provide private assessments, I think it would be a good place to start.

Do accept the SALTs offer to refer for an ASD assessment. It doesn’t really matter who makes the referral but it’s important you start the process. Not sure about where you are but the waiting list in SW London is currently 2 years. If you can afford a private Ed Psych, do it. The more evidence/support/advice the better. Good luck. It’s so tough.

Thanks Pud2
We're in Yorkshire and waiting list is 2 yrs as well. We will be moving forward with a private ed Psy report.
It is extremely tough. I'm very lucky to have found a group of parents of SEN children. Whether their children have grown-up or still babes in arms, they've all shared the same struggles, which on one hand is helpful as they can give you information etc but on another hand is bloody depressing to think nothing has moved on after all these yrs. My own DB went to a SEN school as a child (and he's 45) my mum was kept in the dark back then, I think either someone's forgotten to turn the lights back on or someone's not paid the bill for a very long time.

It’s great you’ve got support. Be firm with the school - your child has the right to an education, and to the correct level of support. You can be polite and respectful but you must keep on pushing to make sure that he gets everything that he should. Take advice and do as much research as you can so you know what should happen. SEN Code of Practice is a good place to start. Good luck.

I would have thought that the school (and you OP) would be helped by an EP suggesting strategies to reduce the number and frequency of angry outbursts, so that your child is able to stay in school and learn effectively.

Plan, do, review was what we had to do, to gather evidence to put to the LA for an EHCP and part of that was information and support from the EP.

If your child is in Year R, that’s less than a term and although distressing for everyone, probably not long enough to gather the amount of evidence required. Of course, you don’t want to get to a point where there’s an exclusion. Was concern raised at pre school?

Given that schools are so financially stretched and EP time is so rare, asking the EP who saw your eldest child in school, to see the youngest privately, is probably a good move if you can afford it. You have confidence in this EP and there might be some strategies to use, as well as those already in place. It might help too, if you decide to apply for an EHCP yourself.

Thanks again Pud2, good advice especially the SEN code. I certainly need to get to know this inside out.

Hi Foxyloxy1plus1, DC has been in the same setting during foundation 1 (nursery), it's a nursery attached to a school. The SENco has been gathering information since before the nursery setting because DC2 was involved with the local children's centre, then Portage, then SALT who then handed over to SENco once DC entered nursery setting but SENco did own evaluation etc before then in preparation for nursery.
The current Ed Psy has more or less refused to engage, SENco was extremely enthusiastic and kept pushing, giving DC 1:1, sensory strategies etc, begged Ed psy for help from inclusion practitioner but Ed psy is ignoring it all.
Dc has always had aggressive anxiety (amongst a while host of sensory issues), the SENco understood this and catered for DC creating 'safe' spaces etc so the transition to reception would be smooth, this proved not to be the case but psy Ed would only allow an inclusion practitioner to help rather than re-review. Although the SENco is good, when we managed to get EHCP for dc1 it came as a shock to them as they were under the impression that EHCPs were extremely difficult to obtain. I have a concern that they doubt they could achieve to get another. Obviously this is not my concern, as I am prepared to go it alone and apply myself.
My main issues with the whole situation are the Ed psy not meeting with me or even giving me a quick call to find out my information, and not giving any strategies whatsoever, Ed psy merely said school are doing all they would have advised anyway. I'd like to note I did offer all involved to defer DC's school admittance because DC is a summer child and I felt maybe longer in nursery, with a shorter day would have put less strain on DC and the school while also seeing how DC was developing but I was constantly informed it would be fine and all DC's needs would be catered for. Safe handling plan was first introduced in the nursery setting also.

Hi, I am an LA Ed Psych. ASD is a medical diagnosis and EPs can't diagnose. Paediatricians or CAMHS or a multi agency ASD assessment team can though. EPs tend to work holistically and look at the whole child so it could be that other things are triggering your DC's difficulties and they should be able to identify that. They will be able to comment on if they feel ASD needs investigation. A private EP tends to cost £300-600 so they vary widely. Always go with someone who is recommended if possible. Chartered means they are registered with the British Psychological Society. This is not essential. They must be HCPC registered though. Has the school EP explained why they won't become involved? That is worth a specific ask. As for IQ tests, imo they don't she'd too much light on what is going on for a child and they are very lengthy and quite restricted. Not my go to. Someone mentioned that EPs are about learning where Clin Psychs are more whole child. I personally disagree with this POV. We are both about the whole child, EPs specialise in children and also have in depth knowledge of education systems too. Best if luck whatever you decide to do, I really hope you gain the support needed