Private verses Cams diagnosis of autism

[Jabo1410]

Hi
My beautiful 5 year old daughter is struggling in school. After conversations with school and a consultation with our family GP it is suspected that she may be autistic. I know the waiting lists can be a least 2 year long and we are still a way of even getting to cams due to needing 2 IEP (we are still on her first).

Could it be helpful to go private? to save stress and time? if so do I have to make sure the private assessment is compliant with any specific governing bodies? Sheffield based but willing to travel can anyone recommend any clinics loaclly?

These are 2 separate issues.

1. Support in school. This is based on needs, not diagnosis. A diagnosis (NHS or private) won’t automatically result in additional support. Have you spoken to the SENCO? What support is the school currently providing? If you feel it is necessary you can request an EHCNA yourself - on their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use.
2. Diagnosis. You can go private. LAs and schools cannot refuse to accept a diagnosis purely because it is private. The validity of the assessment and any potential diagnosis is less likely to questioned if the assessment follows the NICE guidelines &/or you use someone who also undertakes or has previously undertaken NHS work.

A friend of mine went private for her son and found there to be less weight held in diagnosis at her sons school because she went private. Which is of course ridiculous and it shouldn’t matter how the diagnosis comes about as a child wouldn’t get an autism diagnosis unless they qualified for one.

getting an ehcp was the first step to getting my son some support at school. We are still battling but it does give you some framework to go to the school with to make sure your daughter gets the most out of school and reaches her potential. First step is the Senco asking for the educational psychologist to come and observe your daughter at school.

sending hugs. You sound like a fab mum and I’m sure she will do amazingly with you on her side! X

The school doesn’t need to seek an EP assessment prior to OP or the school requesting an EHCNA. If the LA agrees to assess an EP assessment will be part of the NA.

I think it can depend a bit on the school. Our school refused any help until we had a diagnosis but actually advised us to go private, the provided help once we had the report (though not much help tbh).

Unfortunately it seems to depend a lot on how much the child is visibly suffering and if they mask very hard then a lot of damage can be done before the problem is really clear. It's worth fighting very hard for your child, before damage is done.

Legally, the school must make their best endeavours to meet a pupil’s SEN (unless wholly independent) and make reasonable adjustments whether they have a diagnosis or not. To not do so is discrimination.

School should address needs first and foremost, regardless of diagnosis.
Are you or the school able to identify her needs and how best to support her ? that is really the first thing, ASD diagnosis does not open up to automatic support or medication, it's more like a validation for yourself that helps understand certain things.
Post diagnosis you will still have to work out what is needed and how to provide it.
they say when you meet one autistic person you have only met one autistic person, it goes the same for the support, there is no one size fit all