Any experience of a self-referral for OT?

[Sticklebug]

My DS (9) has always had problems with both his focus (in and out of school) and his handwriting and presentation of work. He is clumsy and uncoordinated and struggles with some physical activities.

He has been tested in the past for hearing problems and also a brain scan and testing for 'petit mal' absences. Both showed no problems.

However, the problems continue at school with him sometimes writing no more than the title and an opening sentence in a 40 minutes English lesson and his maths work often being illegible.

In addition, his hands hurt when he writes and he has hypermobile joints in his hands and arms. He struggles to sit at a desk and trys to sit on his feet (does not go down well in class!)

So, I am now thinking that he would really benefit from some OT to improve his core strength and his fine motor skills (which are also v poor).

I mentioned to his teacher who had no idea how to get a referal, so I think that I have 2 options - either go to GP or go to a private practice. A friend has recomended one called 'Sensory Smart child' in Surrey.

Any experience of either route?

I had a private assessment done with my dd as I thought she might benefit from seeing a OT, I was right and was glad I did it, it confirmed to me it was something she needed and so I got her health visitor and GP to put a refferal in. (I didn't mention that I had taken to her to a private one first) I knew what the waiting lists were like and so thought it would benefit in the meantime. I still have not had an appointment date a month later just a letter confirming the referral so I'm glad I have things to work on from the advice given from the private one.

In our PCT you used to be able to self refer. Now you can only re-refer after you have been in the system.
I downloaded the forms from the PCT website, filled them in, took them to the GP to sign, and sent it off.
For the written part, where there are the reasons for referral, I checked the dyspraxia org website symptoms checker, and went through and listed the issues that DS3 has. That way I knew I would cover most of the pertinent facts that the OT would need to know to decide whether DS met the criteria for referral.
DS1 has dx dyspraxia, DS3 has OT report suggesting the same, but will need to get written up by a paed.

There is a severe shortage of children's OT's in my area :-/ We have a team that works in the school, but they have no OT's employed at present, they have tried to recruit, but no luck! I contacted the paed and asked her to refer dd to the main OT team and heard nothing back, so self-referred too to be on the safe side. Think there will be a long wait!

Ds has finally got to the top of the waiting list from self re referral. We have just had a home visit and completed the sensory profile again and discussed his physical problems.

OT is doing a school visit next week, we then get six home visits.

Yes, self-referred (though it was actually a re referral as DS2 had been seen until around 6/7yo and I'd now 9yo) around 6 months ago.

OT Dept sent out a questionnaire for me and one for the school who more than likely lied through their teeth and said nothing was wrong.

They then decided (despite having managed to 'misplace' my questionnaire yet not the school's one...) that they couldn't currently offer DS2 an appointment.

Until I got a second letter, a week later, giving me an appointment date because DS2's Physio (who he was referred to by the orthopaedic consultant...) had referred him.

I have spoken to the OT and it is £450 for a private referral and they could see him in May.

We could (just) afford this, but I have a nervousness about doing this as I feel that they are more likely to propose a treatment plan if I am paying for it...or am i being a cynic? They are professionals, so maybe I would just have to trust their judgement?