Diverging professional opinions - just as we start the statementing process

[cjn27b]

Two days ago I got the Ed Psych report. Even the nursery teacher commented they'd seen DS on a 'good day'. So the report summary says DS behaviour is appropriate, and basically that he doesn't need any extra support.

Today, paediatrician's report arrives saying DS would benefit from one-to-one support in a small class size and needs constant supervision. I read this as needing a specialist school or at least one with a resouce base.

We have only just sent our request for statutory assessment, so I've no idea how this is going to look to SEN team at local authority. It seems to be two extremes.

So, after going to talk to the SENCO about how confused and stressed we're all getting about this, we've agreed to have a team around the child meeting.

Is there anything else we should be doing? Is it worth getting a private Ed Psych in at some point to do a second opinion?

I'm starting to feel more and more muddled, rather than less so... Any thoughts anyone?

Many thanks.

Ed psych will trump the medical paed on an educational matter.

Medical people have to be clear about need but can refuse treatment due to cost. Education people have to, by law, meet need, so they are incentivised not to see any.

What does the SENCO say?

Thank you star

SENCO says we'll have a TAC meeting! She is new to the school and the borough, but seems well meaning. I think they feel DS isn't their most severe case, and think it's doubtful that he'll get a statement, but are backing us in applying for one.

DS is currently on School Action Plus. And, I get the impression they feel that they'll continue with this till it's proven it isn't enough. Because he's only in nursery, it's hard to prove that he's going to have a problem in a structured environment as it can't really be tested. It's taken him a year to even manage to get on the carpet for carpet time.

My fear is, due to his ASD he simply isn't going to learn anything as he finds group activity, following other leads / instructions impossible. What I don't want is him falling so far behind that he looses self-esteem, confidence and believes he can't learn. Yet, the system seems to require that for you to get a statement...

So it seems the statementing battle begins, and we need to speed on tactics. I'm just not sure what to do now!