Ds' OT - we have until December to request a reveiw so do we ?

[LIZS]

Ds(9), with motor skill and sequencing issues, finally had an OT assessment in April followed by 4 sessions and a home programme. The last report in June stated that we could ask for a review until December at which point he would otherwise be discharged. It helped highlight his issues to his school and he has had some one to one to help his spelling and handwriting.

I'm asking his Learning Support teacher for her opinion but am worried that if we allow him to be discharged now it will take us another 18 months to get back to this point if we need to again. Should I request a general review even if we have no specific problems to highlight, to keep him in the system ? I don't feel as if much has changed in the interim and wonder if we should ask to see the Paed again.

Do you mean if you have a review in Dec it will be his leaving review, because if thats the case then I wouldn't.
Keep hold of your Therapists for as long as possible is my moto.

No, we either ask for a review or they discharge. I'm tempted to do so but know the department are overwhelmed (hence our initial wait) and could well have other cases waiting on his discharge. Am I selfish to want to keep him on their books until we know we wouldn't need their input again ?

Yes, I would ask for a review then, especially if they are overwhelmed, because then he probably would be seen around Easter which would be a yr from the intial review.

I've left a message for OT to call me back. School are saying his handwriting isn't making as much progress as they might have expected from their input and is likely to become an increasing issue for exams etc.

You mention support for spelling... has school completed a diagnostic learning assessment with him? As far as handwriting goes re. exams, have a chat with the school about possibility of a scribe being used to support him with his SATs in Yr 6 (this is possible but the school has to provide evidence to justify the need) it also depends at what stage of the SEN Profile he's on.
Good luck

Get the review. They should provide on-going therapy until he no longer needs it. If you think he still has issue then she needs to come back and reassess what can be done.

Don't worry about the people in the queue behind you. You have done your fair share of waiting and it would only require more resources if you had to start the process all over again, I suspect, not to mention the loss of time in helping your DS.

Chances are you won't get a review straight away any way. I wouldn't mind betting it will be Feb before they fit you in.

Thank you, it is helpful feedback. Still waiting for the OT to call back . I agree about ongoing therapy, he isn't going to improve without being monitored. irt seems a short sighted approach. Trouble is they have so many more acute and long term cases which take up time in an already underresourced area.

As far as exams go his school (private which may be part of the problem as I think they assume we would have resources to go private for therapy too and don't feel the same obligation to provide support) doesn't do SAT's. The SENCO said whilst they can take it into account internally, he would need more formal assessment for similar in externals ones. He might then qualify for more time or use of a laptop (he does touch typing). However when he did a written task as part of his assessment OT was satisified with the word count, but then he was relatively fresh, motivated, and didn't have to think beyond spelling his name so not typical of his day.

I know how you feel LIZS, I have felt the same (did I say my DS has dyspraxia?) but I have come to the conclusion that it is a better use of resources to spend enough time on a child in the course of their schooling than to spend too little and end up with a whole raft of unresolved or different problems further down the line. The ones with serious problems won't get missed out and the ones who are less seriously affected have no more right to help than your DS.

We saw the OT last month, for the first time in 2 years. This is not good which is why I would take the offer of an appointment whilst you have the chance.

Anyway, DS is in Yr 3 and I asked how long his therapy would go on for. She told us that they don't provide therapy beyond junior school level because by the time they reach secondary school they should have sufficient coping strategies to no longer need on-going therapy. If your DS doesn't get as much therapy as he needs, by the time he gets to secondary level he will be left without support so it is better to get it sorted now than to have a child who is struggling in later years.

Please don't feel guilty. You and your DS are just as worthy of help as anybody else.

I would ask for the review. It is hard as a parent to know what is normal. I would not want my child being discharged without being sure there were no problems.

Message back today - he is still on their list and we shodul hear again within a week