Recommendations for assessments (and contact details) to support secondary school application (OT, speech and language, cognitive, dyslexia?) in South London please.

[AlBG]

Hi, I’m starting the secondary school application process for my autistic year 5 son (specialist/aspirational mainstream schools – I’m primarily looking at independents but hoping his EHCP may cover/contribute). They’re all asking for his assessments within the last 2 years so that they can consider if they can meet his needs before they’re willing to consider further. He got his EHCP in Year 1 (he currently has one on one support but I think he may be able to manage without that at the right secondary school i.e. small class sizes, extra support built in) and so all of the assessments carried out at that time don’t necessarily reflect where he is now (and neither does his EHCP – this will be updated in a few months time). I’m happy to get new assessments carried out to paint a truer picture and am happy to go private, as I need to get the secondary process underway urgently. He’s currently undergoing an assessment for dyslexia and so I’ll have that (assuming he is dyslexic). He’s been diagnosed as autistic and as having ADHD.

I want to evidence (to the local authority in addition to the secondary schools) that a more specialist setting is needed than standard mainstream. Some of the schools I want to apply to for him say they are speech and language and dyslexia schools rather than autism and I get the sense that a number of these schools (which I think would work well for my son) could be “put off” if they think he needs too much autism support. He really does need extra support, he is very spacey and really struggles to stay on task (autism or ADHD who knows!) and needs someone to keep an eye on him/keep him on track, check he’s understood what the class is being asked to do but he can then get on with it (provided he’s frequently prompted to do so!) but I’m not sure this is autism specific support and think that small class sizes, with different learning methods (e.g. with a dyslexic focus) would help him. Even if it isn’t perfect, it’s going to be much much better for him than a local mainstream secondary option.

My son has great vocabulary and speaks well and so the speech and language report he previously got did not recommend any further support. However, he would really benefit from support in relation to the social side of things and so I do think he would benefit being in a school that provides speech and language support. Therefore, I assume it would be helpful to get a speech and language assessment?
In relation to OT, he had an assessment years ago which recommended an OT coming to his school to upskill his TA on how to support his sensory needs, it has never happened though. He has a lot of sensory seeking behaviour and struggles with a knife and fork, we haven’t even attempted shoe laces yet as he is particular about types of shoes. But I can see that OT input would be helpful for him. So again, I assume an OT assessment would be helpful.
I am also thinking about getting a cognitive assessment. He is class level in maths, approach class level with reading but struggles massively with writing and spelling. If he is diagnosed as dyslexic, I will have the dyslexia assessment here.
Sorry for the information overload!! Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated in general and in relation to what types of assessments would be helpful for his secondary school applications, and also contact details (we're in Wandsworth, South London) for any assessors would be great. Such a minefield to navigate! Thanks so much!

Secondary placements aren’t urgent at this point. The phase transfer EHCP doesn’t need to be finalised until 15th Feb 2024. There will be a phase transfer review in the autumn term of Y6.

If the OT provision is specified and quantified in F and it isn’t happening you could have enforced it.

If you want you can request a reassessment of needs via the LA. At the moment even independent assessments have waiting lists that aren’t going to be quick. Unless money is no object the problem with seeking independent reports now is if you need to appeal, which is a big possibility if you want an independent school, the independent assessments may well be considered out of date by the hearing. It used to be the case that reports up to 2 years old were still considered relevant, but over the last few years reports much younger have been deemed out of date. So you may find you need new reports then which could get very expensive. By asking the LA for a reassessment of needs you may also find e.g. their EP report is adequate but you need an independent SALT one.

Sounds like SALT, OT and EP assessments are necessary. For SALT try: Helen Pearson (Sussex), Juanita Hurley or Jackie Harland. Libby Hill isn’t near you but excellent. For OT try: Aniesa Blore, Melinda Eriksen, Diana Pierags and Moyna Talcer. For EPs try: Catharine Pierce, Jemma Levy, Ruth Birnbaum. Others will often travel so you could try those e.g. Dr Amanda Furness and Dr Mike Hymans.

In order get a wholly independent school named in the EHCP you will need to prove the LA’s proposed school(s) can’t meet DS’s needs &/or it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure.

Thanks so much for your response @JustKeepBuilding , lots of very useful information. Much appreciated x