Ed Psych ...Anyone had experience of Mike Hymans? or recommendations?

[ChaiLatteandAsprinkleofchocolate]

Hi,
I need an Ed Psych to help provide a report for a tribunal to contest content of an EHCP and more importantly the named school in section i.....Ruth Birnbaum just emailed me to say she is not taking on more clients they are full to capacity, I am really disappointed (heard nothing but good things about her)....

I am also not sure if Dr Mike Hymans will be available but does anyone have any experience of him or can recommend anyone in the London area??? I am SE but can go to central or surrounding area if needs be.....

Any recommendations will be really appreciated.

Thanks 🙂

I don’t have personal experience of Mike Hymans, but I have seen some very good reports from him.

Vivienne Clifford and Valerie Hero are excellent. Jemma Levy isn’t in SE London, but is within travelling distance and is also excellent but I’m not sure if she is back taking on cases at the moment. You could also look at Matthew Hart and Catherine Pierce. Nick Palmer, Craig Tribe and Peter Parkhouse are good and will often travel.

Thank you so so much @ChasingMoreSleep for responding, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this .....a great list for me to work through and see who is available.....I am honestly so grateful, thank you so much, I am going to have a look at all your recommendations I trust your knowledge implicitly 💜

You are welcome. Depending on how quickly you need an assessment, it may be a case of persevering I’m afraid. Demand is high.

Thanks @ChasingMoreSleep ....I am not having much luck at the moment unfortunately😕.....but I am working my way through your recommendations so hopefully someone will be available or if not have an idea of someone who is.......but I will persevere 😄💪

I am going through your list @ChasingMoreSleep but have put out another post in the mean time.......MIke Hymans won't travel and a few others not replied....will keep looking trying to remain calm LOL

It is a busy time of year so can take time for EPs to get back to you.

If you don’t get anywhere with my previous list, you could try Stephanie Satariano, Shirley Moyse, Carolyn Smith and Alice Voute. If you don’t get anywhere, come back and I will suggest some others.

In relation to your other thread, unless she has changed how she works, Sara Bierer only accepts Tribunal cases where the parents have representation.

Hi @ChasingMoreSleep thank you again, I appreciate the feed back and advice, i'm really grateful, you are helping loads, hopefully i,ll get somewhere i'll update if I find the 'one' or come back to you before .... thanks so much for your help its incredibly kind and I really appreciate it (quite a task finding someone who knows their stuff and is available) but have taken on board all your suggestions though so hopefully will know soon 🙏🙂

Hi @ChasingMoreSleep ......Stephanie Satariano is not available (Grrrrr) have you any idea about a guy called Alan Willis or Ged Balmer? I am starting to tear my hair out .......will keep on with the list but yes taking a while to get replies ....Alan Willis looks good but appears not to have private practise? can't find any contact details for him?

Ps Just seen Rachel Burton? @ChasingMoreSleep what do you think? sorry bombarding with questions .......

AW’s reports are good and he is an excellent expert witness at hearings. However, I don’t think AW is taking on cases at the moment. The last email address for him that I had was [email protected].

Personal opinion, but I don’t think GB is as good as some. IIRC RB doesn’t write medico-legal standard reports, which is what you want for tribunal, so it is worth checking with her before if you decide to go with her.

Brilliant as always @ChasingMoreSleep Thanks so much for this, so helpful
and sooooo grateful.....will keep at it .....😄

@ChasingMoreSleep If you see/read this, do you think I absolutely need an EP report? l suspect yes but am getting quite worried......some EP's don't answer ....btw Allan is now on the tribunal but I really appreciate you giving me his email, he at least had the decency to respond super swiftly and tell me no (kindly).....some don't even answer so i'm' twiddling my thumbs hoping lol.....but in all seriousness I wonder can I wing it with a school report, and CAMHS (non specific but supportive, I sort of told them you will be seeing us soon if you don't help.....) they did and didn't if you get me, I have a document but I understand they can't actually support my choice just alluded to listening to the child's voice/preference.....a bit helpful but .......maybe the EP is needed???.....

It depends on your individual case, what other evidence you have and how good that evidence is. If all you have is the school report and the poor sounding CAMHS evidence (and presumably existing LA reports - how old are they and how good?) then it sounds like you need further evidence, I’m afraid.

Yes, I didn’t think AW was taking cases at the moment.

It is an extremely busy time of year for EPs, so you do need to be patient.

Thanks @ChasingMoreSleep you are right, I think i'm clutching at straws, most reports are out of date bar the ones I mentioned and actually it is unlikely to be enough thinking about it and how the LA will push their narrative and framing their school as the right choice, this is what scares me proving not that mine is right but theirs is wrong.....but I had a light bulb moment regarding something you pointed out in one of your previous messages regarding contesting not just i and F......I won't go into details (not to be too indentifiable) but something significant that you said makes sense and I see a very devious pattern I didn't see before via recent communications between myself and the LA, anyway I will keep on the case, thanks for the wise feedback/help.... top notch as always 😄......

What type of school is your preferred school? What is the reason the LA is relying on to refuse to name it?

The school is an independent mainstream school (small class sizes)....the LA 's SEN school was full (and my daughter didn't want to go there in the end anyway so it was a relief tbh). The school they have named is mainstream with SEN provision and the main reason is, it fits her high level anxiety profile (apparently). I didn't name it and several mainstreams said they could not meet her needs so they chose that, we visited and it really wasn't for her and she did not like it (I didn't like it either and don't think it is right for her. The independent school have been really responsive and said they can meet her needs (she visited and loved it) but its not section 41 so the LA gave me a resounding No..... we don't have any options other than the one they want and I am not going to let them bully me, win or lose....... and I am aware sadly that I could lose.......

If you are appealing for an independent MS, you definitely need more evidence.

You need to show the LA’s proposed school(s) can’t meet needs &/or that it isn’t unreasonable public expenditure. For the former, you should build a case showing the named school can’t meet needs, but also make sure your case stands up to other potential options the LA may put on the table last minute. For example, you mention the LA maintained SS, make sure your case stands up to that not being suitable - on its own, being ‘full’ isn’t enough of a reason not to name it. For the latter, make sure all costs are looked at. LAs are often selective about what costs they include in comparisons.

Thanks so much @ChasingMoreSleep this is super helpful it really gives clarity to what I need to do (I make notes all the time when I read your feedback)...I will keep contacting options for the Ed Psych, I need to bullet point everything..... Thanks again 🙂

If you haven’t found anyone with availability yet, you could try Ellie Jeffery, Nick Logan, Chris Wood, Nicky Weisfeld and Catriona Hassall. One of the more expensive options but you could see if any of MPA’s EPs are available. If you don’t get anywhere with these, post back and I will make some more suggestions.

Thank you so much @ChasingMoreSleep I really appreciate this....and it is quite amusing the Ahem.....because I actually thought wow this person knows a hell of a lot and seems to have the same in depth knowledge as another person who has been super helpful (in fact they could be twins .Lol)......thanks again,... yesterday I started having a conversation with my daughter about all this as she now appears to be thinking of following friends to a different MS school (not independent), I have deep reservations, her past history a strong indicator that change, social communication and multiple staff will end in refusal after a few days and we have a very long history of this previously, and currently she is only in one class at the moment for primary..... (not to be pessimistic more realistic)...... but I am reflecting on how gruelling this is and will it be worth it, I don't know (school is a fair distance) the expense of professionals etc........anyway ignore me i'm thinking out loud but your help has been incredible.....if you don't already you would be great in this role professionally (legal counsel etc...)....anyway for now thanks again really hugely grateful 😃

I would be cautious about making a decision based on friendships. Friendships change a lot when DC move to secondary. Especially in girls IME.

I work (very) part-time TTO for an organisation who supports parents who have disabled DC. It isn’t all EHCP work, but it includes that. (Although to clarify, I am not an advocate.) A few people have told me I should think about becoming a barrister. It wouldn’t be feasible with my own DC, though.

You are right @ChasingMoreSleep the whole dynamic could so easily change...this is my concern and I do think it is something that can't be done on a whim,.....I think I will pursue my case..... (my gut feeling is to continue) because win or lose the other options (should I lose) can be considered/adopted after, even though it is precarious, we have had a lot of past intervention from CAMHS due to school trauma (obviously not just that, neurodivergence is multifaceted) but I don't want to re-visit it all again making the wrong decision,.....Yes you would definitely be a perfect barrister 😃but I understand it not being possible with your DC .....I will get back on the case tomorrow and start looking again (thank you again for all the names really so helpful) 😄