Not sure where to start with possible diagnosis?

[UltraVividLament]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any advice about first steps towards getting professional input and a diagnosis if appropriate for my 5.5 year old DS? He is in a state primary school in Y1 and has 1-to-1 TA support at the moment, with adjustments made for him in the classroom as a result of a meeting/assessment of him by an advisory teacher from the LA Autism and Social Communication advisory team and the school SENCOs in his Reception year.

We had a lot of disruption to his schooling due to covid, so the majority of his reception year was at home with me doing home learning. He is now in Y1 and coming towards the end of the first term. The school are moving forwards with referrals and next steps to get him assessed in order to inform an application for an EHC plan, I think. My understanding of this is that they want to do this to see if that will help with funding ongoing support.

I was not sure whether we as parents should also be taking him to the GP about his additional educational needs to see if they think that there is a specific diagnosis that might apply to him? Or if we should get him seen by someone privately, if that's applicable? A child psychologist or similar? I think that the school are suspecting some kind of autism or specific social and communication issue, rather than ADHD/ADD, if that's relevant.

You don’t need to wait until you have a diagnosis to apply for an EHCNA. You can do that now. IPSEA have a model letter you can use. The threshold for an EHCNA is relatively low - a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need SEN provision to be made via an EHCP. Any other test is unlawful. With the support DS is already receiving he meets the threshold.

If the LA agree to assess the needs assessment will include an EP assessment, and can include things like a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, OT, SALT.

If in the meantime the school require additional funding to continue providing support they can apply for high needs top up funding.

In some areas the school can refer for assessments for things like ASD or ADHD, but in others it has to be the GP.

In our experience the GP will encourage you to refer for diagnosis through the school. In their words, lots of parents have difficulties with their kids behaviour. But they only think it is a problem with the child rather than parenting if they are having issues at school. .

Some authorities do not accept private diagnosis and will insist on an NHS diagnosis. If you haven't already, I would speak with the school and see what they recommend. My DS school have been fantastic and really helpful with the whole process.

It is unlawful for LAs to not accept private diagnoses, and they know it. If you appeal SENDIST most definitely will consider it.

Thank you both for your replies, and explanations. The school has initiated the idea of the EHC plan, and they are saying that they will take the next steps. So I assume that they will let us know if/when they need further input or action from us as parents.

What I was wondering was if it would be helpful or appropriate/necessary to pursue a diagnosis ourselves, alongside what the school will do. But it seems like that isn't necessary. I will ask the school SENCO team and see what they advise, I think.

Regarding behaviour, we have no difficulties with him at home or out of school. Although I am aware of his current limitations, and don't expose him to situations I know he won't cope in. So I wouldn't leave him alone at a party, or go somewhere busy and loud without having ear defenders or a plan for how to manage noise etc. We try to avoid sudden changes of plans, and give him plenty of prior explanations of what's happening and why. And of course, he gets one to one attention from us as his parents which is a different situation to being in a classroom with a TA.

I wouldn’t wait for the school to submit the EHCNA, many schools needlessly delay, if you do it you know it’s done.