What do you do when you can't affort it all

[sweetteamum]

That's generally it really.

How can I get up to date facts about my child, without needing lots of money for independent assessment.

We are surely at a loss.

Just to check first..

1. are you entitled to Legal Aid if you were ever to file an appeal?
2. do you live in Kent or Sussex - in which case Bedgebury Foundation will contribute?

Do you have a statement or EHCP?

Senvet - Not entitled to legal aid. My husband's job isn't guaranteed income or work, but when it's busy it's really busy. Which it isn't at the minute.

We're not in that area either, unfortunately.

PolterGoose - DS hasn't had up to date assessments since LEA/NHS ones almost 2 years ago. He currently has Statement, only finalised in September, but since October he's been out of school - his inability to cope with additional demands etc of Secondary - However, SALT/OT reports were rubbish previous to that anyway.

It's looking like we're going to be going all the way to tribunal for a more specialist placement, as despite his inability to cope EP has put in her recommendations, that he goes back to mainstream (even though she's previously stated she was concerned he wouldn't cope in Mainstream)

We have only ever been able to pay for an indie EP report and then a top up to update it!

We used Dd3's DLA to pay for it as it was to help us to get her needs met so we thought it was a good use of the money.

You could try requesting a complex communication assessment from SALT , there should be standardised assessments that are used to find out your Ds's level of understanding and communication skills.

It is hard but you should appeal the placement anyway. Ring IPSEA and ask them for advice because that is free.

Good luck.

Thanks Ineed, so it's quite common then. I just feel like I'm letting him down. DS's DLA pays for his stuff already, so it's not a great amount that'll be able to go for indi reports.

So if I got a really detailed indi assessment, then I'd only ever need to top up, to see where he's at?

I will give them a call and see what they say.

Try mind for your salt - I'm not sure if they pay for assessments but if you've had no salt for six months they can help

My salt assessment was £150

If you have ASD in the mix there is also NAS edcuation helpline 0808 800 4102.
Before you have a decision you can appeal they give you a trained education volunteer, and after the decision a trained tribunal volunteer - same as the IPSEA model

Yes - agreed zz. If your funds are limited then save the experts for tribual

Do you know the placement that you want for him?
We had no recent reports for ds when we were in your situation, but we knew where we wanted him to go, so could put our own case forward and the LA school agreed that they couldn't meet his needs.

2boys - mind? As in mind the mental health people?

Senvet - yes, ASD is in there (well ASD-PDA), so I will give them a try, thank you.

Zzzzz - that's a good point and I hadn't thought of that. And I'll call them today and see if I can push. However, I constantly read about nhs not being in-depth so that worries me.

Ohmy - that's another story. I'm currently booking in various schools to see their suitability for him - and vice versa.

We can't afford private assessments at all.

So DS and DD3 will only get the support we provide at home and anything we can persuade the school to give him. Which apparently is both "loads" and "none, as he doesn't need it", lol

Babies - so you're constantly having to push the issue then? Or are you picking your battles?

Polter - thank you. I will start printing anything and everything appropriate for my son (and I'll need it for daughter too). I'll try and keep it short and to the point.

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look at that shortly.

Really appreciate all your advice

NHS wise everyone sees difficulties in both children under assessments (DS and DD3) DS is subtle as he masks at time but I have felt believed. The NHS route is very slow
..We are several years in and only just a formal assessment in a couple of weeks.

School wise.
Last years teacher tried a lot. She was wonderful with him..through all the school refusal issues.
Senco is a lovely lady but only use to Kanners Autism not the more subtle aspergers, hence sees nothing. She did what she had to job wise. But was clear verbally and in writting to others that she did not believe us and there was nothing wrong with DS.
I have been told not to contact this year's teacher or the Senco by the Head..he is going to deal with everything. I hope I can take him at his word.

It comes down to the next meeting either the Head will read the NHS reports and start supporting DS or nothing will be actioned and we will give up asking the school for support.

DD3 is meant to be starting same school in September at nursery but unless she starts talking more or gets toilet trained I can't see that happening.

Formal assessment for 6yo DS.

DD3 will be referred to SALT by her Comm Paed at the next appointment.

Polter If I can establish that DS is learning properly and not too distressed. I just pray we get an understanding secondary school...like you did

Sounds wonderful working together FOR the child and being believed how much easier would the school day be ?

Oh and another thought -
If you find special schools you like, they may do some assessments to decide if your dc fits the school, and you can get copies of those.

They may be well short of the full assessment, but they may have more specified and quantified than the NHS ones

Sorry it wasn't mind www.cerebra.org.uk/English/gethelp/speechandlanguagetherapy/Pages/default.aspx

Email and ask what they can do. Even if it was to pay for one slt session you could ask the therapist where they think dc is. Then when you see nhs you could quote it back if needed.

I have a hard backstory with my son so unfortunately private was needed (I work so I'm lucky their). I am wary if nhs salt playing needs done ( by three years delay in my five year old). So just trust your gut. If nhs say it's no big deal insist on second option in a different clinic.

However maybe I was just unlucky. I pushed back and I am number one on this clinics hit list - joy as ds3 has been refered there too.

Cerebra emailed me back v fast

I hadn't thought about any possible school assessments and their reports. Thanks for pointing it out.

It's not an ideal situation to be in at all Babies. Sounds like the school could do a lot more to help you! But how many times do we see that on here

Thanks 2boys for the link. I'll fire off an email shortly