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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

EP advice what to request and accept if private

11 replies

Heroiclilly · 17/03/2025 19:49

Hi, was hoping for some clear advice as google is confusing me!

I am applying for a needs assesment for my 7 year old son

I have had advice from Sossen to get a private EP if possible due to the sheer volume of refusals in my borough

My son will have his private autism assesment end of April, we also have provate OT and SLT reports coming in this week. Currently all recommending a different setting / environment

He has PDA, inflexible thought, huge sensory needs, translating into percoved behaviour issues / disruption to the class at school (a 2 day exclusion - and we have logged a complaint) basically his dysregulation is very much environment driven

I need an EP to do an assesment to assist with the NA then EHCP being right - we will fight and are prepared to challenge.

On to my question

What should I expect an EP to do and what do I need? I don't think a cognitive and learning assesment is enough. I'd need one that can see him in the classroom / meet with him etc? And also write a report that supports what they think would suit him (impartial advise)

Looks like i need to book these well in advance so trying to figure out when the best time is to do it and what i need to ask for.

It won't hold up any of the NA request but want to make sure I get the correct things done. I see a few step in after refusal by LA. However I have been advised to do this before.

Sorry for long post. Thank you

OP posts:
Buscake · 17/03/2025 19:53

Refusal to issue or refusal to assess?

I don’t rate this advice tbh - you’d be wasting money because the la is likely to do their own EP assessment regardless if they do decide to assess. Which borough are we talking??

Original poster
Heroiclilly · 17/03/2025 20:00

Kingston

The sossen lady suggested that we request the needs assesment and they are likely to refuse so when we appeal we should have a EP private report to show.

For the NA request, We will have EP OT Pead reports and an exclusion to say "here is proof" he should get a NA. That is on top of anything school will provide.... but she said likely they will refuse ...

My confusion arises from this as I then read and ask for "packages" and it's all very confusing and different!

Plus I suppose the private EP would assist with getting the correct wording on setting for EHCP??

Sorry I feel pretty useless!

OP posts:
StrivingForSleep · 17/03/2025 20:09

I am not sure what you mean about ask for packages? Can you explain?

If you are getting an independent EP assessment, you should look for someone who can undertake a comprehensive assessment and write medico-legal report.

Personally, unless money is no object, I wouldn’t seek an independent assessment now. If the LA refuses to assess &/or issue and the OT and SLT reports are tribunal standard reports, you probably have enough to see you over the legal thresholds for RTA and RTI, then if you have to appeal BF (and maybe I) any EP report from now may well be out of date by the time you get to a BF(and maybe I) hearing. And if the OT and SLT reports aren’t tribunal standard reports and you have to appeal, you may decide instead of an EP report you need to target your money at independent tribunal standard OT and/or SALT reports.

Buscake · 17/03/2025 20:15

So the legal test for assessment is incredibly low and you do not need an EP report for this to be met. It is
child has or may have sen
and
may need support in the form of an ehcp

very very low bar, and for this reason appeals for this are heard on the papers - that is you just send evidence, you don’t even need to attend a hearing.

agree with other poster here who said it’s a waste of money. Your borough has a v good sendiass service - I am willing to bet they will not give you the same advice as Sossen.

StrivingForSleep · 17/03/2025 20:23

@Buscake I think that depends on who you get. I know some receive excellent advice. Better than SENDIASS in many areas. However, I also know of someone who was told the LA was moving away from detailing, specifying and quantifying 1:1 towards having appropriate adults providing support written in F and that they didn’t need to appeal that.

Original poster
Heroiclilly · 17/03/2025 21:07

Thanks for the replies.

By packages I mean that the EP says we offer x y z service/ group of services at this cost for each. Not all are the same and it's confusing to benchmark or even figure out what one might need.

Thank you for confirming it's a waste of £ at this point

Now laughing that the OT and SLT reports might not be tribunal standard! No one tells you that at the start! But to be fair were for the peadatrician autism assesment pathway. Now need them for the NA as school refusing.

I am aware of the low bar to request a NA. Hence whybwe are doing it ourselves.

I was also told that the LA are deliberately refusing the NA to buy time in the appeal process ... up to 6 months .... hence the advice about the EP.

Thanks again @Buscake @StrivingForSleep appreciate the time taken to respond

I'm baffled by all this. And so 2 tier.

Thanks

OP posts:
StrivingForSleep · 17/03/2025 21:21

Ah I understand about packages now. If/when you pay for an independent EP assessment, I would go for a comprehensive medico-legal assessment. They are a world away from more cursory assessments and some of the reports written by professionals who do not know how to write a report for SENDIST.

LAs are sometimes refusing to assess to delay, but that doesn’t always mean you need further evidence. It depends on what you already have. Sometimes no further evidence beyond what you originally submitted for the EHCNA request is required.

Original poster
Heroiclilly · 17/03/2025 22:29

Great thanks for that additional information.... medico-legal! A new word to add to my ever growing vocabulary!

❤

OP posts:
StrivingForSleep · 17/03/2025 22:42

Not all professionals who offer medico-legal standard reports will call them that. Essentially it means they have experience of writing reports for court/Tribunal and their reports will stand up at a hearing. That is what you want.

Original poster
Heroiclilly · 20/03/2025 08:53

Oh this is interesting thank you.

I was told yesterday he now spends about 10% of time in the classroom.

Utterly heartbreaking and exhausting. I don't even know what type of school he should go to! I think my views from January have changed considerably!

Thanks again all xx

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