MOONDOG, TOTAL CHAOS i need your help/advice PLEASE!

[jenk1]

got handed a copy of the renfrew test tonight.

It was carried out by ICAN last week.

she was taken off the ican programme last october as they said her language had progressed too well for their input to be needed.

we got no phonecall or letter telling us they would be doing this asessment, and they have sent it straight to the LEA without consulting us or asking for our input.

and to make things worse the ed psych went in yesterday (we werent told this either) and has done a cognitive test and puts her at above average level, which fair enough thats her opinion, but again the report has been sent straight to the LEA as late evidenece and we have not been given an opportunity to discuss her findings.

im asolutely disgusted with them i really am.

this is the 3rd time the ed psych has done this, go in, do an observation, send it to nursery,not phone or write to us, we complained last year, but she,s done it again, she,s the principal ed psych as well so we dont know who to complain to.

our independant psych is disgusted, he said he,s stunned he,s never ever known an LEA to go to these lengths and he,s dont 100,s of tribunals, he says she has gone against the COP.

sorry for the long message.

Formal complaint to Chief Exec. or request for Ind. Review.
Cc letter to EVERYONE.
Contact SNAP
Perhaps even snotty solicitor's letter?

sorry jenk but you know far more about tribunals than me so not sure how much help my opinion will be... ! would hope that the tribunal takes a dim view of these last minute assessments.

the cognitive test - if it's like the cognitive test DS had last month it will be non-verbal - categories and pattern matching - so would have thought that an above average score should be relevant to showing that she doesn't have learning difficulties in areas other than language/social communication - rather than proving anything about her language and communication skills.

in terms of complaining - complain to the chief exec of the trust that the ed psych works for.

ive already got 2 complaints to the exec director at the moment cos of them sticking her in nursery all day and also cos the nursery sent photos of her to the lea without our permission.

so perhaps i need to go higher?

oh im so

when you say cc everyone who do you mean, the nursery and camhs and everyone?

Ask for complaints procedure.Next step is usually an Independent Review.

Yes, cc EVERYBODY. Include also names of MP,local paper and solicitors (maybe keep local paper as last trick up sleeve though) in a long list at end of letter (even if you don't actually send them).You can e mail to everyone-less coslty than letters.

Trick is to shame them into action and let everyone know what they are up to.

i dont want the ed psych involved in dd,s care anylonger do you think i should put that in the letter?

with DS, because he did so well in the cognitive tests, I was told that the ed psych wouldn't be seeing him again, so given your DD is above average, don't see why same shouldn't apply for her as well.

yes but she isnt above average though.

all of the asessments she,s had from SOGS tests to independent tests have all said she,s got learning difficulties and she goes in does a report and BING suddenly she,s above average.

ah. that puts a different complexion on it then if you want to dispute that finding. did you get any proper sort of explanation of exactly what tests the ed psych did?

not really something to do with blocks and keys dd said "we did it together".

some observations were done and a drawing test which puts her at age 4.4 yrs, well the independent psych said her drawing age was more like 3 years level, she,s just gone in and completely contradicted everything he,s said just like she did last time.

it actually says on the form

dd was seen today in nursery in order to gather some up-to date infor about her current levels of functioning in the nursery prior to the tribunal hearing on 20.5.08.

but why wait until less than a week before to do this?

the blocks one will probably be getting your DD to copy the combination of coloured blocks that the psych shows her. so I can see why DD might think that they did it together.

presumably they are doing all this last minute stuff because they are bricking it about outcome of tribunal to trying to strengthen their case - and that would imply that either nursery or LEA don't have sufficient up to date paperwork, doesn't it?

yes you are right, noone has seen her for over 6 months.

i dont for one minute believe she did a recognisable picture because i draw and paint with her all the time and she just does blobs, if you say right put an eye there and a nose there she will but left on her own she doesnt.

i cant believe they are going through with this, our psych has said the panel will rip them to shreds over what they,ve done, surely they must know that?

feeling much calmer now, had a meeting with our independent psych re the hearing on tues.

he took one look at the ed psych,s report and said "wheres the signature" i hadnt even noticed its not been signed, neither has the SLT signed the test done last week.

he asked why on each occasion a nursery teacher was involved in the test, he said he carrys out asessments on children without needing a "prompter".

he said he cannot believe the ed psych will turn up on tuesday and if she does she will leave with "egg on her face".

he said the panel wont accept these, last minute,rushed,unsigned,not discussed with the parents non-reports.

he also said he would be discliplined if he was to do what the ed psych has done.

he agrees with you moondog, straight after the tribunal letters go to the chief exec, the psychological society and the SALT from ICAN,s boss asking what the hell are they playing at, we have said we no longer have confidence in the ed psych as she has twice visited dd without speaking to us and sent reports to nursery without us seeing them.

so i feel much calmer now.

glad you are feeling bettter now you've spoken to independent psych, it's very odd they've not signed reports that they've copied to tribunal.

btw when DS did the blocks test, there were 2 people - one to put the blocks into patterns (think that was the SALT), and the ed psych to score it - maybe it's a north west thing eh that they do it that way!!!!

Glad to hear it Jenk and your ind. psych is speaking a lot of sense.