Can you appeal a CAHMS diagnosis?

[Hangingbyafingernail]

Exactly this really. DS 10 finally went through the process last term for an ADHD diagnosis. After meetings with the phycologist and forms filled in from the school CAHMS said that he was 1 point off with the school saying he had no behaviour which impacted his education in the survey. I was dumbstruck, the head dumbstruck said she's never known a child that screamed ADHD like my son does, turns out a teacher that taught him for 2 weeks while his was sick filled the form in. After a meeting with the SENCO who was also dumbstruck I made my peace with this after being reassured a diagnosis would make no difference to their support of him and transition to comprehensive school.
Fast forward to tonight's SEN meeting with his new yr 6 teacher. I could vomit I'm so upset. Basically he said he's failing at everything and "will not do well at secondary if his handwriting and ability to concentrate in class don't drastically improve" the polar opposite to last year's teacher who said he was working within age targets, when I asked how he could suddenly of gotten so much worse they implied the summer holidays were to blame?! His teacher suggested extra handwriting sessions, which I pointed out he's already supposed to be getting. Non of the techniques to assist in shouting out and fidgeting are being used either, his teacher hasn't even read his previous SEN plan. I really feel panicked about this, I feel the school have dropped him like a hot potato and I'm worried about his future. So to the original question can I appeal the diagnosis or is this it now?!

You can ask for a second opinion. You could try to telling CAMHS the school’s form wasn’t completed by someone who knows DS and ask them to reopen the case. However, since there has been a period of time and they have discharged, I don’t think they will.

Request a meeting with the SENCO. The should be providing support. That isn’t based on diagnosis.

Is the handwriting problem caused by mobility/coordination issues? I'd ask the school to refer to OT and get an OT assessment of his handwriting skills and general coordination and see if typing could help. If he has DCD, that often also causes difficulties planning, organising work etc. I would definitely challenge the previous CAMSH diagnosis but an assessment for DCD might be quicker, depending where you live, and I found a DCD diagnosis much more useful for getting actual accommodations and interventions in class/exams etc. There is nothing in terms of support that comes directly with an ADHD diagnosis (apart from access to medicine if you want to pursue that, but even access to titration services is not always direct and immediate).