Extra Exam Time - Help Needed Re Medical Proof ??

[RockinHippy]

I'm wondering if anyone can help with ideas as I'm a bit stumped & worried about what is needed, versus what paperwork we can get😐

DD(yr9) has EDSH & currently under treat functional B12 deficiency, both of which cause her pain, exhaustion, SPD & cognitive problems & more. She has just been assessed in school & found to qualify easily for extra time & rest breaks for GCSEs etc. This application is to be based on physical disability & how it slows her down.

I've now been told that in order to complete the application, we need to supply a recent consultants letter confirming diagnosis & how it affects her. I have these, but nothing remotely recent.

Unfortunately getting this isn't easy as B12d is managed by our GP & we had a hell of a fight to get even that. JHMS/EDSH is now also managed by our GP, it was initially diagnose & discharge to OT, CAHMs & Physio care, but she took much more ill a couple of years ago & ended up in a wheelchair. She was eventually referred back to Rheumatology & unfortunately this was anything but a good experience for her, resulting in her refusal to speak to the consultant & in the end refused to see her again. I should add, with good reason & we have a complaint in progress, not least because this consultant tried to block the B12 injections that got DD back on her feet & well enough for school again. This consultant turned out not to be a paediatrician, which also showed in her attitude & there isn't another available so this was also referred back to our GP care.

In short, we do not have any consultant for her at all now, so getting a letter will be difficult, especially as I only have less than a couple of months to provide one

She does have an excellent OT who has known her since year 4 & has already said she will happily provide any letters needed as she was concerned DD might get passed over for extra help as she's very bright (this almost happened) In that past it was the OT who dealt with this sort of thing & as they have better understanding of the affects on people, this made much more sense. I don't think DD has ever had a consultant who really understood how she is really affected, definitely not in the way her OT does, so the consultants letter seems odd

DD does have a current Hydrotherapist, GP is great & she is under the physiotherapist team at GOSH, but bar initial assessment, she hasn't yet seen them for treatment. None of these are consultants though 😐

Can anyone help with exactly what the rules are for application, do I can try & do the best I can for her as she really needs this.

TIA

I don't know if the rules have changed recently but when i got exam access arrangements for my dd for GCSE and A levels a GP letter was sufficient. I had to pay for the GP to write the letter but she was happy to do it and asked me what details she wanted me to include.
Have you asked the school to provide you with details of what is needed? Or go to the exam boards for advice.

Thank you, I'm hoping that is the case as that would be much easier. We've had similar letters from our GP before, so I know it won't be a problem to get this from our GP, I actually have letters filed away from her that would cover it, but no good apparently as not Year 9, daft when it's a chronic condition 🙄

I've just been told by the school, a consultant letter, but that it has to be this school year, which is difficult, though they thought a physio letter might be okay. I think I do need to ask a bit more.