LEA Ed Psych Criteria - Autism

[2006hildy]

What are the criteria to be assessed by the LEA Ed Psych?

G is a no problem at all child so in my experience so far, if no problems are presented at school everything plods along same as usual. I just want him to be tested to make sure there are no underlying problems because Autism to me has been a bit like an iceburg.

Because Autism to me has been a bit like an iceburg I would prefer him to have as many tests as possible to learn about G therefore I am making the criteria fit to get an assessment without lying of course. I am stuck on the idea of early intervention.

G has no friends, happy enough in school, relatively well behaved in school his autism does make him shout out wander off etc follows rules to the letter, he will stand on the periphery of a group wondering how to join in then usually give up when he is ignored by the group. He does not show appropriate behaviour when he does interact with other children - his play is very one sided and all about him and his interests so it only works when the other child is prepared to go along with it. He therefore needs support with social skills groups, teacher supervision in the playground to try and ensure he is then applying some of the group skills he can learn etc.

His gap between him and his peers is getting larger I was hoping there would be some kind of intervention to teach him skills he could use to keep up not just reading, writing and spelling.

I worry alot that "she said she would not assess her as the class teacher thinks my daughter is no different to anyone else in the class." the teacher says this so that she does not have to do any work such as differential teaching or social stories. Or am I just OTT now, like my husband says.

I also worry that County Council staff do seem to have standard answers (eg you have given him a label now) brainwashed to them to save money or avoid timewasters or whatever.

I just can't get it into my head that children are not regularly eg annually, tested if they have a diagnosis.

I am writing an essay to myself on why I think I need G assessed.

I left a message with our EP to ask them directly after I realised I could but they have not rung back.

My experience is that the full battery of testing that you wish for, is unlikely to be done by the LEA. It simply is not in their interests and it would have cost implications for them. If you have the means, I would commission your own report.

My own DC has a profile not dissimilar to G and we have found sessions with a speech and language therapist to deal with social interaction has been extremely helpful. As my DC attends an independent school, the cost is met by us. It was not recommended by any of the Ed Psych my son has seen, but as he grew older it became more obvious that social skills where becoming difficult.

Rather than the Ed Psych, I would approach your LEA and establish whether they have a specilist team for children on the autistic spectrum, many do. They would be better equipped to understand G's needs and advise school on how best to meet G's needs. You often need a formal diagnosis to access the service which it sounds as though you may have which was the case in my LEA.

I agree with ChocolatePudding on the cost implications front. Unless your DC has a Statement, it can be harder to get an Ed Psych assessment since schools now need to buy in Ed Psych time, and this time tends to be prioritised for the Statemented kids. Ironically, getting a Statement is IMPOSSIBLE without an EP report, sometimes several are needed. So at some point, something's got to give. It might be necessary to "make a case", in order for the school to him as a priority.

We're actually in a VERY similar situation with our DS who is 7 and was diagnosed with Aspergers last December 2011. I very much want him to have an EP assessment in order to get a full and complete picture of his academic strengths and weaknesses. I also suspect Dyslexia and hope that this could be followed up by an EP. At present my desires have been shared by the class teacher who is very sensible and ASD aware, however I have yet to hear of any follow up eg: I've not been given any parental consent forms to sign, nor heard of any impending assessment with an EP.

I have actually voiced my concerns with the paed that diagnosed DS, and he is including EP assessment in his recommendations that accompany the diagnostic report he is preparing to send to the school - I feel this could (fingers crossed) lend some "clout" to my request. Is there some way you could do something similar? Do you have a paed/diagnostic team you could speak to?

Another option, before you fork out ££££££ for a private assessment, is to contact Parent Partnership at your LA. Details should be on your local council website. PP are LA advocates for parents with children with SEN. They should be able to advise how best to approach the school with your request and in many cases, will provide an advocate to accompany you to any meetings etc.

One other thing to do before ANYTHING else: ring the school, speak to SENCo and arrange a face-to-face meeting where you will discuss your request that your DC is seen by an EP, and discuss the social isolation issues too.

I don't think you're being OTT at all. I believe all your hunches re: teaching social skills etc, are correct. Unfortunately SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) provision is also limited due to funding. Unless there is proof that in-class provision to improve and encourage correct social skills is failing (which should be documented in your DC's IEP) it can be hard to access SALT services. You might try to get your GP to refer your DC, based on mental health grounds (eg: your DC is becoming depressed/is suffering from anxiety due to isolation and loneliness)

p.s sorry about the essay! It's something I'm very passionate about because of our own v. similar situation. I'm also an Inclusion Worker in a primary school

I agree with all the posts so far and think that you need to attack this from a different angle. I am in a similar postion to Badgerina. We got a diagnosis of Aspergers. Finally, after much fighting, got the EP in. It was suggested in the diagnosis letter that he was assessed by EP, but I was still denied for ages. When I did get the EP report, it didn't do me any favours, becasue surprise surprise it agreed with the school and said that very little ASD was visible at school itself.
Get p-w-p involved. Try and get a dignosis, by going outside of school. This is your first step. Try getting your GP to refer you to Developmental Paed. I got that, then finally, got sent to CAMHS where i got his diagnosis.
Sorry you are in this situation. But have faith that many, many, many of us have been there !!

SORRY. Have just re-read OP:
"I just can't get it into my head that children are not regularly eg annually, tested if they have a diagnosis."

Missed that. So you are indeed in the same postion as Badgerina, and as I was, until recently. Then you need to do as Badgerina suggests and get the Paed to write to the school, insisting on EP assessment. Better still, don't wait for next Paed appointment. Write to pead, ask him to do it. tell him why. then ask him to phone and discuss. You may speed it up that way.
At my last paed appointyment, pre EP assessemtn, she told me to keep her informed, and thta I could write or ring before my next appointment with her, because she appreciated that she wouldn't be able to see me for atleast 9 months.
So, I am in the process of writing to her, now.

I've just had a horrible thought - have the school finally decided to involve the EP because they want to send him on to another school?

EP rang back and said there are layers of criteria.

1. making mainstream better
2. statutory assessment
3. statementing

Ours is 1 and DS dxd ASD delayed expressive language.

If you can't talk are you unteachable?

Thank-you for all your replies I appreciate them. Keep em coming.