Tribunal - just received letter from legal team

[KOKOagainandagain]

They want me to consent to carry out further assessments for DS1 - will apply to tribunal if I refuse.

They want an updated report from the EP that saw him a his old primary school. DS1 is seeing a private EP in a couple of weeks. That would be 4 in a year and a half - 2 private and 2 lea.

A report from the comm paed he saw whilst at primary in Essex - he has since been transferred to Suffolk and actually has an appointment with the Suffolk comm paed in a couple of weeks. Suffolk - OK - reported for statement - sociocommunication and sensory processing issues. Essex definately not OK - when I saw her with DS2 she said she thought it was a 'shame' that DS1 had got an ASD diagnosis and that she disagreed with it. DS1 is no longer her patient but the Legal team from Suffolk have named a report from her rather than his current paed.

They also want SALT assessment - I have Margo Sharp - looks like she will have to be a witness at tribunal now.

I've sent a copy of the letter to my IPSEA rep but what would you who have already been there advise I do in response?

sounds an absolute nightmare - i have no experience to add as with mine my LA have not sought any reports at all and now bleating that I have reports.

I would try and get your EP to see your child first as it will mean that their EP will then have to do different tests as you cannot redo the tests within 6 months. Your EP will test all sides of your child whereas my experience has been that the LA EP tends to concentrate on the childs strengths so the results can look okay. I think you could easily delay the LA EP for a couple of weeks. I found out last night mine are calling the LA EP on tuesday - he hasnt seen my son since May 2012 so have no idea what on earth he is going to say

LEA EP saw DS1 in the primary school he used at attend at the beginning of July and I was hoping that they would not reassess - I thought it was 12 months not 6. I don't even know where they suggest the EP see DS1 as he is not in school - at home? During an EOTAS session?

I haven't told DS1 yet - DS1 believes the EP tried to trick him - not because of the advice for the statement but because the EP asked leading questions when he spoke to DS1 and tried to get DS1 to say things that were not what he believed or felt.

I feel bad about the thought of surrendering DS1 to these so called experts who are acting against his best interests.

Yes, your EP first. You can delay by laying down some rules and insisting on accompanying with dates you are available being close to the date of last evidence date.

In writing, - Agree 'in theory' to the assessments, but say that you'd like a bit more information about the purpose and what the professionals would be doing before you can give your full consent because you have to balance it with the welfare of your child, and they have had plent of time up until now to get those reports done. Ask them directly if the purpose of their intervention now is to fight against you at tribunal, as you've not seen them any time recently.

Caveat: This is general rather than specific tribunal-related advice, as I haven't had this particular experience

Dear Suffolk LA

Thanks for your letter informing us that, should we decline to consent to staff from Essex assessing x, you will seek a tribunal order to enforce this.

Unfortunately, we are unable to agree with your view that it would be in x's best interests to undergo repeated assessments by professionals who are no longer involved in his care and education. X has specifically declined to see Essex-ed-psych again, he has now had 3 EP assessments within 18 month. We feel x's refusal should be respected. He recently saw a Suffolk paediatrician on (date).

If Suffolk feels that some old-EP and old-paediatrician input is important for continuity purposes, we suggest you ask them to write to the current EP and paediatrician. We, or the LA, could ask the present team for their comments. Any relevant matters can thus be incorporated into x's ongoing follow-up.

We are taking specific advice about your request for assessment by a Suffolk SLT, and will respond to this matter within a week (or whatever)

Love n hugs
The Keep Clan

everyone - what would I do without you

Mulling it over.

Was it you who once got upset in your early days at us being an unfriendly bunch?

Moi? Surely not