Private Ed Pysch recommendation for HFA

[RoaringFirePlease]

Hello, DS (6) has autism (probably high functioning).

He's struggling at school (a state school) but the school aren't helping much and before we apply for an EHCP, we would like to get a private EP assessment.

He is a bit behind at school, but not miles behind, but he says that he finds the work really hard and he is getting very negative about school. I can see that he finds the work very hard going at times. He has a lot of sensory issues around too much noise and movement and his motor skills aren't great.

Can anyone recommend someone they have used please? Its a lot of money to spend and we just want to try and get the right person.

Any recommendations most gratefully received.

Whereabouts are you?

Sorry, that would be useful for me to tell you! We're in Kent, but willing to travel. I understand most good EPs tend to be very booked up, so happy to travel if need be.

Ours comes to your school or home and covers S-W and Midlands so not much good to you :(

Try Ann Baumber, she's in Kent. However, she's really busy so may be booked up.

Fourarms - thanks for replying, its much appreciated.

Gruntled - will look up Ann Baumber - thanks so much.

zzzzz - DS has seen an EP through the school who was supportive initially, but then the school and LA pressured her to change her opinion. We have now moved house and school, so will try to see another EP via the school in this area. We think its now time to see someone privately, as we have got nowhere over the last 2 years, and DS is getting more and more anxious and negative about school.

Thanks zzzzz. We have been holding off getting a private EP report as we were worried the school might just ignore it!

The consultant who diagnosed DS (when we were still living in the UK) has written to the school with recommendations, but we aren't getting very far. We want to get all our evidence together so at least we have it and so we ourselves know what DS educational needs are and what we can do to try and help him.

We have no EHCP yet as we have been living abroad for a period. Before that, DS got a lot of help at nursery (when in the UK previously) including full time 1:1. We are working towards applying for an EHCP, although that will be another battle I'm sure.

zzzzz - you have to bear in mind that some LA's are better than others and have different working arrangements with NHS SALT and OT and specialist teachers including autism outreach.

DS2 used to attend a m/s primary in the neighbouring borough and without a statement or a firm diagnosis of ASD he was visited termly in school by SALT, OT, SLCN team and outreach team.

We moved house, only about 20 miles, DS2 went to an in county primary and he received a statement just after we moved. The statement was supposed to ensure continuity of provision in the face of geographic differences in the local policies of health and education.

But once the statement was issued, despite the same need, he had 'lost' SALT, OT and SLCN and outreach refused to accept referral without firm diagnosis.

The LA just hid behind their own and the NHS local idiosyncratic policies right up to Tribunal. Then they gave the provision back. The difference is that the LA are now responsible for delivery despite the local NHS policies.

I recently went to a workshop run by NHS psychological services for newly diagnosed DC of school age where much was made of the 'new' understanding of the significance of sensory issues.

Trouble is, none of the parent's had a child that was a current patient of OT. Either they were too old - no referrals are accepted over the age of 8 - or DC had been seen and discharged despite ongoing and changing severe problems.

We are trying pre-teaching but he's too far behind at the moment for it to be on the same level as the school are teaching. Writing and reading are hardest. He is very stubborn too and inflexible in how things are done!

We have been advised by a number of people to wait until he has been at least a term in an English school (its only been a few weeks so far), otherwise they will use that to say they have no comparison.

I completely agree its not about the money, its about their attitudes and approach to teaching him. Some of the things they could do to help would cost nothing, but getting them to understand him and his ways is tricky.

We used David Urani who assisted us when we had to appeal against a refusal to assess. My dd has ASD. I can probably dig out his details if you PM me. I think he is based in somewhere like Brighton or Cambridge but travels around a lot.

Thanks for the replies.

Mumsuzz - I have seen David Urani recommended on here a few times, so thanks for that. Does your dd have high functioning autism? I guess I am worried that they will say like the school 'oh but your ds is lovely, so well behaved at school and only a little behind so give it time and he'll catch up'. He is finding school quite challenging in that he is always behind and always having to 'catch up'.

We have been thinking about a tablet/ipad to help with reading, so may well give that a go.

I guess she would be regarded as HFA but her combined IQ only came out around 80 (though David Urani said that she was assessment weary and assessment wary by the time he saw her)! She is about a year behind the NC levels.

I agree with others that said that the school might not look at a private EP report - and we did use him in our battle to get DD assessed by the LEA.

However, he helped focus our minds on what would best suit DD and certainly helped with getting the EHCP. My dd is now a school for children with additional needs and very small class sizes.

Have the school contacted the LA ASD outreach team? They might be able to come in and make recommendations - they might have a more useful perspective on a child with ASD.

Thanks mumsuzz. I will try all these suggestions and hopefully something will work for DS.

Forget about getting your DS being privately assessed by an Educational Psychologist. It is better to get private reports when you are challenging the contents of your DS ECHP plan through Tribunal.

I would apply for an ECHP plan and then your DS will get assess by an OT, SALT and EP, covered by the LA. I wouldn't just rely on an EP report. It's best for most children to be assessed multidisciplinary.

Your DS may be underachieving as he may have sensory issues, eg. Cannot concentrate in a nosy school environment, too much sensory stimulation etc.

But please apply for an ECHP plan ASAP! I applied for one when DS was 4 and he didn't receive his one till he was 5 and a half!

We are trying pre-teaching but he's too far behind at the moment for it to be on the same level as the school are teaching. Writing and reading are hardest. He is very stubborn too and inflexible in how things are done!

He could find writing difficult as he may have fine motor delays......he may not get that sensory feedback when writing...the list goes on. I don't think getting an EP report is your most priority from what you have written about your DS. I think you should focus on getting your DS assessed by an Occupational therapist, speech therapist and then an EP.....from the LA..and vice versa.

My DS has an above average IQ, but he is underachieving as he has social communication/language difficulties...sensory difficulties, delays etc.

I don't mean to sound patronising, but I would highly recommend in applying for an ECHP plan.

Thanks Notgiving - Ds has been signed off by his last SALT and OT, despite his sensory issues and problems with gross and fine motor skills. They all keep saying how lovely he is and that he will develop in his own time! I will try to get him re-referred via the new school or GP.

Applying for an EHCP is definitely on the agenda.

Used Ann Baumber for EP report. Would not use again.