How can we get support for my boy at school

[MrsGokWan]

I am pretty much convinced that my Son has Dyspraxia.

I have done a lot of research online and it seems very much that he has. We have asked the school about it and they have put it to the SENCO to sort.We had a phone call and she said to go to the Dr. to get refered as it was quicker. The Dr. told me there was nothing he could do as it was an educational issue and sent me away.

So what do I need to be pressing for? They say it takes a while for things to gt refered through them. To be honest I don't know who they are asking to se him and who gets refered to.

What should I be doing to gt things moving so he gets the help he needs.

To add to the mix he is also highly intelligent and aced his SATS (wanted to do more of them, strange boy.) Is doing a lot of YR4 work even though he is YR3 and we think he should be on the G&T list. Someone said if we could do that then he would definatly get help with his Dyspraxia.

So then ladies what should I be doing to gt him help?

Please.

The gp is wrong - you could be referred to a paediatrician who will do a developmental assessment and can in turn refer to an OT if applicable. If you can get an Ed Psych involved he/she can assess the IQ against your ds' performance and highlight what areas need support, suggesting how, and what his strengths are. (ie ds has a relatively high verbal iq but cannot write at the typical speed for his age). If gp is not keen then school SENCO can also do referrals if it is a state one. Does he have an IEP in place ?

Not a lady but... - just kidding, it is mostly Mums on Mumsnet after all!

Personally, I'd suggest talking to the school and/or the SENCO yourself. Your child cannot be the first with a special need that they've come across. They must be able to shed some more light on this for you.

Tell them what happened with your doctor and ask what to do next. They may be able to refer you elsewhere or stick a rocket up your doctor if he/she is getting it wrong.

Definitely go to the school/SENCO first. It's their job after all. Usually, I find, when asked these people are more than helpful and more than willing to talk you through the process: how/why it takes so long; what you can do to help etc. etc.

Good luck!

DaddyBlog
Read my blog daaddy.wordpress.com - a silly look at life as a 21st-century Dad

Thanks Lizs and Daddyblog,

The SENCO says that it takes a long time for the Ed Pysch to react to them asking for help hence them telling me to go to GP as it is usually quicker.

I will make an appointment with anothr GP at the practice and see if I get different reaction. The particular GP is an arse anyway. He does not like me and tends to treat me like the 'little woman at home with the children' , if you know what I mean.

I was speaking to my DC2's Speech and Language Therapist this afternoon and she was asking me about my other 2 boys and she was shocked to and has given me a number to ring to ask to se the Occupational Therepist. Would this help to get his diagnosis do you think?

Daddyblog, my apologies to you. Ther are a lot more mn posting here now and I should remember that.

OT's will diagnosis dyspraxia. You need to go back to a helpful GP and ask for a Paed and OT referral, if you have any IEP's take copies with you for the GP to add to his referral, it will to prioritise appointments. Good luck

You may well ahev to wait fro any referrals , ds saw oaed fairly soon (about 6 weeks) but OT was 18 months after that. School could write a letter for the gp , highlighting any physical and behavioural issues rather than purely educational - he may well ahve thought you meant dyslexia. You may not get an Ed Psych via NHS that is suually through the school/LEA but you may have to wait, or you go privately.

Dyspraxia alone is rarely given priority as, unless it coexists with other conditions or SN, it is perceived as "mild" in the scheme of things. Presumably your child functions "well enough" in the school environment for them not to find him a problem. It is surprisingly common (1:20, mostly boys) but most cases go undiagnosed.

Mrs Gok, i've answered on your other thread under general health... but similar to the others!

You can bypass the school and write directly to the LEA educational dept. -ask for a statutory assessment -they have to respond within a certain time.

Thanks for all the help and advice.

This morning I eventually got through to the number I was given and was told I had to phone else where. So did that and with a little to ing and froing till I got the right department, I got to speak to someone. Was told that they would only take referals from Dr, school or HV. So I asked if someone could ring me so I can put some strategies in place mean while to help and support him. Was told someone would ring me back.

Spoke to the Dr's surgery to get an appointment and aftr a bit of faff managed to get one with a different Dr. next Tuesday aftr school for him.

Spoken to the Dyspraxia Society and they take up to 21 days to process stuff but she said some stuff was sent out today.

While I was typing this the OT rang me and I explained the situation again and he said that the only way to gt a referal is Dr, HV or School, yeah! thanks kinda knew that! So I asked him what I could be doing to help and support him while we are waiting for an appointment and he told me that they send a pack out when we gt an appointment. OK, fine but what can I do meanwhile, wait for a referal and appointment and pack, oh! and get on to the school.

I am being made to feel as if I know nothing and until the 'experts' tell me that he is Dyspraxic then I should just leave it be and not nag like a good mummy pat on the head now go and do some cleaning.

I have researched this as I felt there was something not quite right and he ticks all the boxes. I just want to know how to put support things in place to help him and me.

DH is writing a letter tonight (he is better at that sort of thing than I am) to go to the SENCO and copy to the LEA as well.

We will get there. Eventually.

I posted on your other thread then saw the link for the update.

Regarding strategies, if you check out the cerebra website, they have a postal lending library which has some good books on dyspraxia which would help you find that sort of thing.

Oooh! thanks Chops.

BIBIC

These people can give lots of ideas on how to help him- they don't dx but their assessments can help get a DX as well.

IIRC its £50 for an assessment, dyspraxia is covered.