New Here (known delays) - Assessment Wait Times in UK

[newtolondon]

My DD (4yrs) had the equivalent of a SEN in the USA and got therapies from a SALT, Physio, and Occupational.
We had to move for DH's work assignment. As soon as we got here, we spoke to health visitor and DD will be assessed. After a search here, I saw a couple of posts that said it took many months, but another person told me that legally it has to be done within 90 days. Is that true?
The issue is we are now applying for reception (Sept 08) and know she won't be assessed before application deadline, but also know that could be a factor in where she should go. I haven't been able to get any answers from the health visitor regarding my concerns for timing.
Any advice?
Thanks!

In order to get a statutory assessment going, you must put it in writing or they will fob you off newtolondon. What no-one told me is that the 16 week assessment clock you refer to won't even start ticking until you send a formal letter to the head of SEN in your LEA saying something like: "I would like formally to request a statutory assessment of my child, [name], under the 1996 Education Act." Then put in a para about any diagnoses you had in the US, and some impressive sounding stuff about how your child was already getting help over there. You should still put in applications for the schools you believe best, but mention that a statutory assessment for SEN is pending. SEN actually puts you as a priority in UK state schools. Once the statutory assessment is done, they must give you their decision in writing and then there's a further period (of about 8 weeks) when they must draft up a statement. When you are filling in any forms about your DC, you must put in the worst case scenario as WARNING: the UK LEAs seem to have a (covert)policy of giving out as few statements as possible, and for instance if your child is HF ASD they will try to fob you off with something called delegated funding, or early years action plus or some such term. This is rubbish, mainly, and means that your child will be given very little help , just the odd extra bit of therapy here and there. Let me know if you need to know more! Good luck!

Hiya, welcome to the SN boards - there's also a separate area (special needs) which you need to tick a box at the top to see, but which gets mroe visitors

I ahve 2 kids with statemnts )(and another who is NT)- both ASD.

can I suggest in the first palce you go to a website run by a group called ISPEA? they're the specialists in statements and suchlike.

My friend came from America about 2 years ago, with her daughter who has a DX of PDD-NOS. Comapred to the American system, aly she ahs nothing good to say (although presumably because she is well off and can afford health insurance but anyway .

She ahd to satrt by getting a completely new DX from a Paed. taht may be becasue many Apeds tend not to use PDD_NOS as a DX here so won't necessarily affect you, but be warned. The PAed did agree to contimnue the dx but the wait to see a Paed alone was 8 months. The there's the whole statement process....

Do get i touch with IPSEA, and get that letter to the LEA tomorrow (model letters on IPSSEA website). They have to intially agree to assess, only after then does it all start happening- adds up to 6 months IRC. And they will sue very single day- and then you'll probably need to appeal!

We got an initial assessment with Paed within about 2 months of gp's letter but the referral appointment for OT assessment was 18 months later. NHS Healthcare in our area is particularly stretched financially. If you find yourself struggling to get appointments soon enough would going private be an option ?

or if your DH got private healthcare (BUPA or PPP) through his work, you can get an initial diagnosis paid for on it. We used Dr Daphne Keen, who is at Tooting hospital but with a private practice in Wimpole Street (I think, W1. It is more difficult for them to argue if you have a diagnosis from someone like her, as she's very well respected in NHS and privately.

Thank you so much for all of this information. I guess I was totally clueless to this system. I'm going to post that letter tomorrow!
I would have never known. The health visitor told me I had to do nothing, just wait for them to contact me.

aquariusmum - Do I need a GP referral before making an appt with Dr. Keen? Does she have a long wait time before seeing private patients?

I am trying to remember if we needed a GP referral but I'm not sure we did . Her very efficient secretary Daphne can tell you and I think it's St George's Hospital Tooting, but ask for her private patients secretary. We only waited about 2 months I think. She was so kind and thorough and nice. Your HV is definitely dissembling - I was told roughly the same thing: don't worry, we'll be in touch when it's the right time for assessment!!! That time never seemed to come though! They know when you send that letter that they are legally bound to start the ball rolling. Good luck!

sorry, secretary's name is Joy, Dr herself is called Daphne

sorry, secretary's name is Joy, Dr herself is called Daphne