EP to school on a day I cannot make it....

[TICKLETUMBLE]

The school has organised for the EP to visit DS in January on a day that I simply cannot attend due to external assessment at work (my job is being assessed so can't exactly pop out for an hour or so).
The usual process is for class assessmentthen talk to the parents.

Is it better to postpone (for a number of months) so we can add our input, or go ahead with the visit and catch up with the EP by phone?
Any experience in this? Will us not providing some home background cause a problem/ make giving an assessment more difficult?

The visit has been organised as we (school and parents) agreed that better understanding of DS limitation and needs would benefit everyone, and may lead to a suggestion of where to look next diagnosis wise (although not epxecting EP to diagnose, just have insight due to experience)

At the moment I have said to keep the appointment to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later, but if its likley to lessen the value of the assessment then would postpone.

can dh/dp go ? I'd opt for a phone interview which could be followed up face to face if needs be.

I would take the phone option. He will observe your child, speak to teachers etc which doesn't need your involvement. What would be discussed afterwards can be done easily via a telephone conversation as good as face to face. You will also get a written report afterwards as well

Agree, definitely take the phone option.

Same here, assessment and liaison with teachers followed by telephone liaison with you. It might even work in your favour, if the EP can mull it all over before speaking to you by phone.

Good luck with both assessments - dc and you!

Honk
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You could also always email some background info to him if you feel it would be important

Great Thanks for the fantastically swift responses!!

DP works at same place so is in same position as me on that day sadly - ideally we would both attend a meeting, as we do with school whenever possible.

I'll leave the assessment as is and follow up.

I totally agree with what others have suggested - and have had to do that myself (from a hospital bed the day after a spinal operation)

What I did was talk with the EP and at the end of the conversation, gave him my email address if he needed clarification of anything I shared. We ended up emailing back and forth several times, and it actually worked well - better, imho, than if I had just had the one face-to-face convo.

Wishing you the best - but in all honesty, I would be hesitant to delay, knowing that it would be ages before the EP might be available again. I am sure they understand when parents are not available face to face... and I am equally certain that s/he will understand.

Good luck with your assessment, too.

thanks! I had not really considered the benefitsof having a telecon being better thatn F2F but I can see it may help with time to cogitate on what was seen.

Very nervous about it...

Secretly hoping they say 'oh he's just young and immature and will catch up', and not go the fobbing off way of ' its the parenting style', but in reality think formal assessments for ASD and ADD will be on the cards, bless him.

we are moving house the weekend before, so will possibly see him over excited and a bit unsure of himself due the change....seeing him in challenging circumstances might be good as they will see him at his 'worst' but may also just put it down to homelife upheaval.

Got a form to sign that indicates they will be assessing if DS fits criteria for a statement...makes it very real that he must be very different to his peers to even ask for an assessment of this...

We have an opportunity to add any comments to that we think relevant...not much space so not sure whatthey are expecting from us.....any advice?

I can't tell you what to add, but remember that you can always attach a separate document if you feel there is something that would be of benefit.

Honks, I can see this is overwhelming to you - add in a job assessment and a house move and I would be on the verge of breakdown.

thanks for all the support and helpful feedback...........want this month to be over...far too much going on at once!
:)