Is a child at private school entitled to an educational psychologyst ?

[teaparty]

Hi,my daughter will be 5 in march and has a speech disorder and is delayed developmentaly by one year. We've had a meeting with her consultant and everyone involved with her acessment. They have said that her speech therapy will continue, but she'll also need an educational psychologyst to work with her in school. They have said that because she's at a private school at the moment, she wouldn't be entitled to one. I wonder if there is any way around this? I've heard that she should be given one as she's under 5.
Also, do you think it is really that important that she has one? there are only 10 in her class, and the teacher is fantastic with her and has really bought her on well this term. We've noticed a difference in her speech and confidence. We've also been told that there is an option of her repeating the reception year if needs be.
If we need to pay for an ed-psychologyst, then I'd have to take her out of the school.

How crap!

I guess the first thing to look at is EXACTLY what they are saying she needs and then looking at how that can be accessed. When they say she needs an Ed Psych to "work with her in school" what does that mean? X hours one to one in a classroom setting or an Ed Psych to assess her and give a report to the school? If they are saying that what she needs isn't available because she's in a private school I would argue that that is discriminatory. If the Ed Psych is only available within school hours maybe it would be possible for you to take your daughter for appointments during school time with her current school's agreement.

I would be very reluctant to remove a child from a class where she is one of ten to a larger class without very good cause. It sounds like she is getting help and support where she is so I would fight tooth and nail pesonally to have her needs met without moving her. Remember, nobody is going to fight for your daughter except you (believe me, I've been there!).

Ed Psychs IME don't really "work with children in school" they visit and assess and leave reports and suggestions for the school to follow usually one visit per year.

agree with others, normally you'd only see an Ed Psych as a one off, with a review later on, rather than on a regular basis. They are in such demand, and funding tight, that many LEA's won't make theirs available to those at private schools. I also suspect they don't routinely work with under 5's unless privately funded or as part of a Statement. We were quoted between £500 and £750 to have a one off private assessment and in the end got a contribution from the school towards it. Perhaps you really mean one to one help from an LSA in the classroom which is "free" in state schools but may well not be at a private one (£30 phr at ours)

If my SIL's experience is anything to go by having a SEN child in private school is not necessarily as good an option as having the same child in state school with a statement.
Whils classes are undoubtedly smaller a statement guarantees an education tailored to suit a child's needs and 1 to 1 support if needed.
A statement would also open up the option of speech and language units and if you are up for a battle a private special school if you can prove that the child requires specialist provision.

Our LEA have said the same to me but I haven't pursued it (so far). Instead I went and saw our brilliant GP who arranged for ds to see a community paediatrician who can then refer ds on to whomever he needs to see. I thought that would be a child psychologist but the paed said it may be an ed psych. We saw the paed yesterday so I'm waiting to hear.

It really annoyed me when I spoke to the LEA. It is the equivalent of having private health insurance and being prevented access to the NHS because of that. Makes no sense to me whatsoever. I feel strongly that I pay taxes and should therefore have access to the same services as everyone else. Instead I'm being penalised because I chose to send ds to a private school that offers great wraparound care rather than pay the same in fees to a CM (who wanted to increase her hourly rate by 65% when he started school). Mad.

I do know that a school friend of ds's was seeing a SALT and was told the same - you have to pay because you're at private school (same school but different LEA). I know his parents were fighting that but not sure what the outcome was.

Ds is currently being assessed by the SENCO at school (£20 for testing) and then we'll have to pay £32.40 per hour if he needs any one to one. As I understand it if his needs can be met in class with some input from the SENCO then there is no additional charge.

Thanks everyone. She has been seen by an ed-psychologyst as part of her acessment, with the hospital. It was recomended that she has on going involvment in school.
I didn't realise they only did about one acessment a year. If that's the case, then if all else fails, we might be able to afford a private one once a year.
My daughters teacher's sister is an ed-psychologyst, so I wonder wether she'd be able to see her in shool, either that or give advice to the teacher?
We are going to see how she gets on at the school. At the moment, it's fantastic, definatly the best place she could be. I'm not sure if that'll continue to be the case as she moves up through the school. She may improve enough to not need extra support in class, if not, then I think we'll need to look at some state schools. Of corse, the good ones will probubly be full.

We've been told that the speech therapy will continue, so why not the educational psyclogyst's input?
It is very annoying as my husband and I pay a lot of tax, like all working people. We know of many people who have no intentions of ever getting jobs, and they seem to get everything provided for them on a plate, and they don't seem to appreciate it! (sorry, sore subject at the mo). I'm thinking of a particula family we know.

bump

Just skimmed this, but can I just put everyone right on something? The Local Authority has a legal responsibility to make provision for every single child in the whole of its geographical region, and this includes providing the services of an Educational Psychologist for children whose parents choose to send them to an independent school or educate them at home, or even in another local authority area.

Now, as we all know, while this right might exist, in reality they are going to bump you to the bottom of the waiting list every time they get a chance. However if I recall current legislation correctly, I think writing to the Chief Education Officer in your Local Authority, formally requesting an Educational Psychologist appointment should ensure that you are given an appointment within six months, which is the maximum time limit.

It's perfectly possible for your dc to have a statement at private school - ds1 is at private secondary and his statement provides for 1:1 help and we don't pay a penny extra

having said that he's only every seen the EP during his initial assessment and then occasionally at annual reviews - I've never heard of an EP going into any school to work with a child on a regular basis

What did the Ed Psych's report say? Does it state that more input from the service is required?

Thanks everyone, I haven't recieved the EP's report yet. In the meeting though, they said that it would be necessary to have more input.
Thanks Boffinista, that is really helpful advice.

oh thought this might be you . Are you thinking of letting the state school place go ? The teacher may be great atm but the next one may not be so. You may have "right" to support but the LEA will not see it as a their obligation without a statement etc. Getting one while at a private shcool is a real battle. There is an assumption that if you can pay fees you can pay the rest. I think because she has had SALT while Early Years funded they have an obligation to continue but the Ed Psych input is usually a one off and they have evidently done this by getting her assessed now. The LEA will often only recognise Ed Psych's on their panel , not an independent one too.

oh and ds gets OT on NHS but even she couldn't get us to a funded Ed Psych.

I will let you know if we manage to get a NHS referral to an Ed Psych. As things were left our paed wasn't sure if ds issues did need dealing with and if so what the appropriate referral would be.

Ed psy's usually do a detailed assessment and provide advice for meeting the child's additional needs. They do not 'work' on a regular basis with a child unless perhaps if the child is in a special school.They may review cases or support school through consultation sessions.
For children in private schools it will depend on your individual LEA protocols. Most educational psychology services will (or at least used to) provide an assessment and report to the children that live in their local educational authority (not where the school is). Best thing is to phone the Ed Psych service directly and ask them. As a parent you have a right to request an assessment for your child and it is best to do this in writing.
The problem comes if there are resources required to put the advice in place. Most LEA's will not fund this support.