Educational psychologist assessment via teams

[Luckycloverz]

Hi we are due an assessment for my 14yr old, has diagnosed autism and adhd local authority behind with assessments so they have asked independent assessors to do it.
They are based some distance from us and only do online assessments via teams, I’m concerned due to child’s autism she doesn’t relate well over phone or teams and has selective mutism and does better with one on one but over teams I’m not sure who they will come across because they just won’t/can't always speak.
Also been referred to nhs and salt as previously noticed some auditory processing delays.

We are home schooling due to not coping in school but this is just me teaching we don’t do online lessons or tutors, I’m worried they will not pick up as much as they would have if seen in person.

Has anyone had experience of this assessment over teams?
Is there anyway to force meeting in person? I don’t want to turn it down as request was put in last June so dragging on.

Grateful of any info.

I would speak to both the EP and LA about how a virtual assessment isn’t suitable given DD’s needs. Many LAs are using virtual assessments.

If you mean an EHCNA request was submitted last June, you need to send IPSEA’s model letter for breach of timescales.

My daughter had her ep assessment via teams. I had v strong views on this being plainly ridiculous and was told whilst we could have in person it would likely be another 12-18mth wait!

Upshot EHCP finalised within 8 weeks of EP assessment.

We had a 5 year old assessed via Teams , absolutely ridiculous( especially as she had a really strong accent and he couldn't understand a word she said)

Yes my 9 year old was assessed by an EP via zoom! Ridiculous. But I had a long phone conversation with her first to put her in the picture about his needs and struggles.

My concern was that he would come across very articulate and calm on a one to one zoom chat, and he did. Which of course isn't what he's like in a mainstream classroom.

There was also a request for video footage of him at school (presumably in place of an observation, again, ridiculous!) but thankfully my SENCO got evidence of him in meltdown.

Upshot is that actually the ed psych listened to my views and got the measure of my son and I thought her report was excellent and accurate. And pretty clear that he couldn't stay in mainstream. So it worked out.