My daughters acessment was a waste of time, they 've said what help she needs, but won't give it to her.

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is nearly 5 and has been having speech therapy since she was 2, with very little sucess. The speech therapist diognosed her with Verbal dyspraxia and told us that there was nothing wrong with her understanding or use of language, it was just the pronounciation.
I've always wondered if it was more than that, because she dosn't seem to understand things half as well as other children of the same age. She seems to me like a much younger child than she is in every way.
Anyway, we had an acessment with her at the hospital unit which included a SALT, an educational psychologyst, a physio therapist and a consultant.
We then had a meeting to discuss the findings.
They said that in her mental age ranged from 2.5- 3.7 years.
They also said that she dosn't play well with other children, which she does at school. They said that she dosn't settle well and is easily distracted, which she isn't at school.
They didn't say anything positive about her at all. She is a very loving, happy little charactor, but they just didn't seem to see this. All they saw was a set of problems.
They said that she's need ongoing SALT. She hasn't had any in a year now, as the SALT said she needed a break and would contact us. At her acessmet they said they'd find out who her new SALT would be now she was at school. I haven't heard anything and the acessment was in mid novenber. They also said she needed to see an EP at school, but because it's a private school, she's not entitled.
I just feel like they've just dropped us and the whole thing was a waste of time. Nothing has been done for her.
The school are putting together an action plan for her, with small goles and how to achieve them.
I've been given a report from the hospital, with several pages missing. I need to chase that up.
I'm not sure what to do from here.

bump

You need to start chasing things up, don't rely on people being in touch when they say they will. Get the full copy of the report and keep ringing SALT until she is being seen again and say how you feel the initial SALT did not fully explore all your child's difficulties.

Have you considered getting an independent EP report if the LEA will not visit a private school?

Are school happy for her to stay? It may be worth having this discussion because some private schools won't keep kids as they get older and their difficulties become more apparent.

I know how difficult it can be reading reports and how negative they can seem BUT the idea is to get your child the help they need. Good luck, the more fuss you make IME the better the services will be for your child.

mummylveslucy, things change from the age of 2 to the age of 5. Did the SALT at the hospital notice any?

Unfortunately assessments are to highlight the childs difficulties, i know its difficult, but try not to take it personally . Although my SALT report did highlight strengths as well as weaknesses. Did they not highlight any strengths?

Im not sure about the EP and private schools to be honest. I thought every child was entitled to assessments regardless. But im sure someone with more knowledge will be along to help.

All the problems that they have highlighted, the school are saying this doesnt happen in school? Does it happen at home?

I feel for you. We have been learning with our ds, that there is no way out other than being the pushy parent - it doesn't come naturally to me at all and it is not my wish to alienate ds teachers, but like you we have discovered that nothing happens unless you are constantly on the case.

Yes if your child is in private school, you will need to pay privately for an Ed Pscyh assessment. She won't be entitled to have one through school. They cost about £400 - £500 privately.

I think if I were in your situation, if at all possible I would pay for that assessment - it will give you a really good picture of your dd's needs. Also I found with ds report, they focus on the positive as well - show where their abilities lie, so it's not al negative as you found at that meeting.
I'd ask the Ed Psych to consider whether you need to look at getting a statement for her.

And I think personally based on the results of that I would give serious thought to moving her to the state system, if she does get a statement it gives the LEA a duty to meet her needs. Not saying it's always perfect but you have the legalities behind you then.

Thank you everyone. I know things can change from 2-5 years but I thought things could only get better. I've never heard of things getting worse.
She is in a very small class at school and we have always put in so much at home.
At home she settles well to any activity we do, eg painting, cooking etc. She loves to be involved with everything. She will also play with other children she dosn't know, at the park etc.
I think she was probubly testing the bounderies during the acessment.
The only positive thing they said about her was that she was keen to communicate and was a very talkative little girl.
They also said that they could tell that she comes from a language rich environment. (Which she does)
I have been concidering moving her to the state system. I think I'm going to have to sooner or later. At the moment I feel the small class and the good relationship with her teacher and friends is doing her good.
I am concerned that she won't cope well as she goes through primary school.
I really cant afford to pay for the private EP. It's hard enough with the school fees at the moment. Things are quite tight. If she really needs this imput and extra help then we'll have to move her. They didn't mention a statement at her acessment. Maybe they feel she dosn't need one.
I am going to have a look around several state schools and find out what they can offer her.

You chase. You phone. And you phone and you phone and you phone. And you demand meetings. And you demand dates. And you make yourself a right royal (polite!) pain in the arse. You make it very clear that they will provide what she needs.

It is the only way.

I think it must be so maddening to have an assessment saying things that you just don't recognise about your child. You want them to know her...but an assessment is only ever a snapshot. And they did not have a rep from the school there, and it sounds like they didn't take much note of what you said about her. So they are assessing without looking at the full picture imo.

Just remember, it's only ever a snapshot, any good assessor knows that and that they are just reporting what was found during one visit, if it was one visit only.

Good luck anyway. I feel for you because there's no easy choice - the school she is in is giving her the small class environment which is so precious and which of course you don't get in the state system. Having a child with SEN is no simple matter is it

i have to say though if this was me, I would beg or borrow or get a credit card for that Ed Psych assessment because a full one is worth something imo. Full picture (snapshot!) of her needs including an IQ so you can see where her abilities lie and then it gives you somewhat more of an idea of whether she is meeting her potential. Just my opninion.

I have heard that if you push hard enough you will get an Ed Pysch to assess, even if your child is at private school. ed Pyschs are paid for by the local LA and are therefore a resource that should be available to all council tax payers regardless of whether they are in state / private ed.

Worth pursuing with your Council and if they won't give in then try local councillor and / or MP.

Thank you everyone. I do need to practise, or take tips from my mother.
She was seen by an ed-psyc at the acessment.
She was there for 4 sessions each session lasting 3 hours. The ed-psyc basically said that all her skills were like that of a much younger child. She noticed her avoidence tactics, and the fact that she is aware of her own difficulties. The EP did seem to understand her better than anyone else. Everything she said, we agreed with. The EP said that she settled well to acessment, which contradicts what the SALT said.
Is the acessment she had the same as the one we'd have to pay for?

Thanks WetAugust, I will persevere. The school are looking into it too. They have said that there is a loop whole because she is under 5. Her birthday is at the end of Feb though, so time is running out. The acessment would have to be outside of school, but that's fine by us.
The consultant has said she needs it, so we should have a pretty good case.
I never whould have thought about the council or local MP, so thank you.

Mummyloveslucy, They said that she dosn't play well with other children. If she plays with children at school and at home, how did they assess this and reach that conclusion?

Also when ds was 2 it appeared his only problems were a slight speech delay and extremely limited diet Im not sure if things get worse as he get older or just become more apparent. I think this is quite common if that makes you feel any better.

And children often test differently on different days. My SALT report stated that ds seemed quite agitated and couldnt sit still. But yet he was able to sit with EP for 2 hours no problem.

I paid for the EP, but school have to have their own EP assess.

As everyone has said you really have to push to get anything done. Good luck.

Sadly you won't get the same level of support all the time she is attending a private school as you would in a state school. The LA have no obligations especially once she is out of the Early Years Funding , even assuming she might qualify for a statement. tbh I've found it easier to access NHS resources for ds, so you may get SALT and OT if you persevere. LA wouldn't entertain providing an EP though, we split the cost with school in the end and need another EP review later this year to help prepare for transition to secondary and exams. Could you ask the same EP to observe her at school before she turns 5?

Thanks, she was acessed with a group of other children. That's how they came to the conclusion that she dosn't play well with others. She didn't play with the children in the group.
I am going to try to get an EP acessment for her, before she turns 5. I don't think it'll be easy, but hopefully we'll get there.

Good luck mummyloveslucy. Its very hard isn't it. My son appeared to 'regress' but I think it was just that his speech difficulties got more apparent as his peers sped ahead.

Have you heard about ICAN? I know some MN parents have used them (based in London) for their children's speech difficulties and have been thrilled about the support and help they got.

i second ican we went December and am about to us etheir report to blast the Lea.

Though dd main problem needs to be language based for them to help but give them a call