My child is being referred for an Educational needs assessment - what next?

[Minniethemoocher]

I have just been told that my child needs to be referred for an educational needs assessment - suspected dyslexia plus possibly something else, don't know anything about the process, just looking for some advice really!

I have also been told that SEN is very under resourced and the process is very slow and that I should consider a private assessment - how does this work?

I hope to hear from the school SENCO next week.

My DD is just turned 5.

Sorry for all the questions, just feel lost and worried and want the best for DD...

Well, I don't know private would work.

My daughter has dyspraxia and a number of currently undiagnosed learning difficulties and she is 4.

How it works here is you meet with an educational psychologist and she writes a report. Now we have something called a Pre-SCAT meeting to work with some people to determine what kind of support she needs in school.

Now my daughter has mobility issues so she's also being treated by a paed, but this may not be true for someone who doesn't have issues like this - she has coordination problems, low muscle tone, hand flapping and leg spasms.

But bumping for you in case some others who have more info.

Thanks expat, DD finds it very difficult to concentrate, tunes out to the point that you have to touch her to gain her attention, finds it hard to form relationships with other children, so is rather solitary.

I suppose that I will just have to wait to hear from the SENCO and take it from there really, but I don't even understand all the acronyms that are used in this area!

I have been trying to get ds1 (10) referred for an assessment for the whole of this last year. It is a nightmare. He is not bad enough in their eyes and has made some progress so they don't think it's necessary.

I was told it would be about 8 weeks for the ed psych to do the tests after referral. I have looked up the private testing and it's about £400 at out local dyslexia centre. They said the LEA often won't recognise the diagnosis though and do it again themselves.

I'm surprised they are referring you so young, ds1 was really bad at that age and they kept saying he may grow out of it. He did improve but always struggles.

Warning -some local dyslexia centres charge hundreds of pounds and aren't carried out by ed psychs - they are just the tests I would do as a specialist teacher. They can be a useless rip-off so be careful! Either ask school to suggest an LEA approved Ed Psych or contact Dyslexia Action - not cheap.

You could ask school/advisory teacher to carry out the early years DST - will let you know if she may be dyslexic. I agree that 5 is pretty young, though there are lists of pointers etc. Where in UK are you? If you're in SE I could suggest a few people/places to use/avoid!

You don't need a diagnosis in order to be put on the SN register.

The SENCO could, if she recognises the problem, put a programme in place to help your daughter whilst she is waiting for a proper assessment.

Don't know much about dyslexia (sorry) but for other issues such as the lack of concentration and social communication problems where perhaps some sort of ASD is suspected you would need a referral to a paed, via your GP, who would do an assessment and then refer your daughter on to a clinical psych, (and other specialists if necessary) for a diagnosis.

I think no matter what is wrong it is a long process. My DS1 has dyspraxia and mild AS and it took 18 mths to get a dx. I think if they see them quite young they drag their heels just a little bit to see if it is all a developmental blip. Obviously resources are scarce too but I think even if they weren't it would still take a while.

Good luck with the SENCO next week.

I hope the paed can help you out!

My child doesn't have social problems, difficulty concentrating or attention problems.

Her problems are with her motor skills and cognitive skills.

Thanks for all the advice, very useful, I will let you know how I get on with the SECNO, but at the very least I would like a learning programme put in place for her especially as she will move up to Year 1 in September.

Quick update, saw the SENCO last week, she said that DD was showing strong signs of dyslexia and needed a referal to an educational psychologist, but that this wouldn't be until September. Her year teacher had suggested a private assessment, which we are prepared to pay for, but the SENCO gave us a deaf ear when we mentioned this...

The SENCO has agreed to provide and individual education programme for DD, which will run until the end of term.

Quick update, we now have an Individual Education Plan for DD, it states School Action Plus. She is seeing the Ed Psych next week and is also going to be referred to see a Paediatrician - is this normal to see both?

Feeling very lost dealing with DD's Special Educational Needs, it seems to be a minefield of acronyms!

Also feeling sad and sorry for myself...I know I shouldn't but I do...

I've done specialist dyslexia training and have a dyslexic ds (now 11 and at grammar school) - early intervention is by far the best approach. Even if your dd turns out not to be dyslexic, the help she receives now will be a huge help with reading. I'm keeping a close eye myself on dd3 (4) and making sure she learnings synthetic phonics in the best possible way. Please don't worry. Picking up on problems early is the best way to help sort them out.

Thanks swedishmum - and good to know that you DS has done well.

Update - had the meeting with the Ed Psych, who couldn't confirm a diagnosis of dyslexia, although DD showing strong signs of it, but did mention that she thought that DD was on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder scale.

This was to say the least, a little bit of a shock to go from dylexia to ASD! The next step is for DD to be refered to a paediatrician for another assessment. I am resigning myself to the fact that this is going to be a long process.

IF the diagnosis is ASD, does that mean the DD will need a Statement of Educational Needs? Will this help her at school?

Feeling a little shocked and lost at the moment.... Just want DD to get the help she needs at school.

The fact that I am 8 months pregnant isn't helping me cope either...

My little brother was sent to see one as he refused to pay attention in class and wouldn't write anything down. They suggested he had behavioural problems and suggested moving him to remedial classes.

Dad wasn't happy and got a second opinion privately. On further investigation it was found that he was actually bored and could do mental arithmetic in primary school. He is still absolutely amazing at maths but wouldn't be if Dad had gone with the first opninion.

Minnie, My DD (just 6) has ASD (Aspergers).

Yes a statement of SEN will indeed help your DD, however it is extremley difficult to get one with most LEA's. However your DD may not need one, there are losts of things that can be done to help your DD without a statement or Dx in the mean time, how experiance are her school in working with Dcs with ASD ?.

Sorry that you got such a shock, Minnie.

Whether or not your dd needs a statement will depend on her individual needs and how much the school is already able to do to help her.

I have a 5yr-old and an 8yr-old who both have ASD. They haven't yet needed a statement but it's possible that this might change as they get older.

Is the SENCO easy to talk to? It might be worth making an appointment to discuss it so that you can find out what the school plans to do to help dd.

Thanks coppertop and twocutedarlings. The SENCO is lovely, which helps! DD has an IEP and is on School Action Plus. I will have a talk to her and see what the next step is.

Her class teacher told me that finds it hard to keep DD engaged in class work, as she cannot write or read at all, so the lessons are often a complete puzzle to her...

Just an updated, received Ed Psych's report, really inconclusive, and now referred to see a paediatrician, 2-3 month wait, but DD is getting 20 minutes 1 to 1 per day, so not too bad...I have a feeling that this is going to be a long,slow process to even get a diagnosis.

Just finished reading all these threads and thought I should share my experience with you. A few years ago. My daughter went to primary and junior school and was a bit on the clumsy side, always had bruises and and yes, she was and still is quite clumsy. Even when in school getting told stories she would stare out of the window and generally looked disinterested. Anyway, I was called to one side for a meeting with a few of the teachers who proceeded to tell me that they thought my daughter was dyspraxic. One of the reasons they came to this conclusion was that she was clumsy and didnt listen when getting told a story....but the big giveaway was that it never bothered her when she had one sock pulled up and one down.....WHAT!!!!....ARE THEY MAD!!!!....
My husband works with autistic students and he happens to know one of the leading authouroties on dyspraxia...he has even wrote a book about it...and we were told that the teachers were talking rubbish. They definitely jumped the gun here, so a suppose what I am trying to say is "remember that you know your own child as well, so make sure they are sure before trying to label children....all kids learn at different stages. By the way, my daughtere has passed all SATs and is doing great!!!!!

If a child is not doing well at school, but no one can work out why, then
it may be a condition called "Auditory Processing Disorder". 10% of children have it but very few are diagnosed. My daughter has it, as well as a mild form of dyslexia. Often APD and dyslexia are linked, along with ADD and ADHD

The hearing is normal but the brain does not process some sounds. This makes it hard for them understand what is being said and they often appear to have gone into what was described to us as "a bubble" by our daughter's teacher. You can get more info here. It is an article I wrote about my daughter and there's links to other organisations that you may find helpful.

I hope you manage to get a diagnosis, whatever the problem is.

Just thought that I would update you on DD. We had a development assessment this week with two paediatricians. They told us that DD has Specific Learning Difficulties and that they thought that she was Dyspraxic and had ADD, not ADHD, as she is not hyperactive.

They have referred her to see an Occupational Therapist.

BUT
When I received their written report, although it stated that she has SpLD, it did not specify them, in fact did not mention Dyspraxia or AD.

So I can TELL the school/SENCO their diagnosis, but I have no real written diagnosis.

Are they waiting for further info from the OT referral?

Is this normal practice? Feeling a little frustrated and considering writing to them, asking them why they have not stated in their report that they consider DD to have Dyspraxia and ADD.

Think that written evidence will be essential in terms of getting a Statement of Educational Need.

Any help/advice/experiences would be very welcome!