statement (and delivery of its contents)

[chocjunkie]

DD (5, autism and severe s&l delay/disorder) is in reception and statemented. school is great and all is going fine. AR is due in the summer.

however, she never had an EP assessment (has only been observed about 2 years ago, EP tried to do an assessment but could not engage DD at all). DD's statement states that she should be seen by an EP for a cognitive assessment. however, LA are now producing shed loads of excuses to not do the EP assessment.

I would really like to get an assessment of DD. I know her s&l is very delayed but we have no concrete idea where she is learning wise elsewhere but there is a huge discrepancy between her verbal skills and her non-verbal reasoning skills.

how useful is an EP assessment at this stage (DD is in reception atm)? I have a lot of other things going on and have to pick my battles and wonder if this is worth a battle having.

and if I want DD's EP assessment to be carried out, what is the best way to force the LA to do it?

"however, she never had an EP assessment (has only been observed about 2 years ago, EP tried to do an assessment but could not engage DD at all)."

Well, she did have an assessment, didn't she? Just because the EP couldn't engage her, doesn't mean she wasn't assessed. The assessment is 'DD is impossible to divert from the object of her attention and is unable to share adult-led activity.'

Honestly

DD1's report said 'I tried to observe DD from a distance, but this proved impossible'

How useful an assessment would be depends on whether you think her needs are well identified and met right now. If they aren't, you have two choices (this is my 'soapbox' at the moment, so ignore if irrelevant ):

Either request in writing an EP assessment, pointing out the part of the Statement which indicates its need.

OR

Request a formal re-assessment of DD's Educational Needs.

In fact, you could write a letter which states that unless an EP assesses her you will be requesting a formal re-assessment of her needs and that you understand it is your right that they carry one out under clause 7:94 of the SEN CoP which states:

"7:94 Under section 328 of the Education Act 1996, the parents of a child with a statement may request a new assessment of that child under section 323 of the Act. The LEA must comply with such a request, so long as:
no such assessment has been made within the previous six months; and
the LEA concludes that it is necessary to make a further assessment."

You could cite the reason as 'without an EP assessment, it is impossible to tell whether the current needs and provisions set out in the Statement are still relevant.'

thanks lougle :)