First Ed Psych appointment tomorrow - what should I expect?

[MiladyDeWinter]

Lovely lady from the LEA told me to tell him all about the SENCO who said to take DS straight to a special school in Yr 1 and not bother getting him any supported pre-school hours before then.

So that's the main thing, getting something sorted out in that respect, but what else should I ask? And what will he be doing? I doubt very much that DS will engage with him...

Thanks in advance

Try to be up front about what you want. If you are vague, the EP will follow the party line with Mainstream, minimal 1:1 so that he can learn to socialise and be independent.

It is often in the LA's interest to begin with minimum and 'see how it goes' or wait for additional paperwork from school etc.

Any report written this first time is unlikely to get much in the way of recommendations but you might get a good opportunity to sound him/her out about whether you are on the right tracks and some 'unofficial' guidance on how to go about ensuring this.

You will be able to ask this person about specific problems that you are having too and you might get suggestions or even referrals if you are extremely lucky.

hth

Thanks - not long to go! Was lucky to get this appointment, probably good that DS isn't in nursery since the EP works during the holidays and thought he might as well see him this week.

Let us know how it goes. I think the reason you haven't had much of a response is because LA EPs are a bit of an unknown quantity and variable in their helpfulness. I actually thought my one was quite thorough in providing information for me and the LA. She was crap at making recommendations though, because basically, she'd never get promoted if she did.

Quite useful I think, although he was very reluctant to articulate DS' ASD, preferring to focus on his complex needs rather than use the name of the condition. And seemed very surprised that he had been given a dx before age three.

But he is going to recommend a specialist teacher to liaise with the setting I choose for him and for a family support key worker.

Will have to see how the report reads I suppose but he seemed very amenable to me changing the bits I might disagree with.

I was asked which areas I would like to see improvements made in to form the basis for targets and I chose four.

You were absolutely right about the party line, too

Milady Sounds like as good as could be expected. Good to stay 'friends' with these people as long as you can (whilst remembering they aren't actually your friends however).

Helpful about the report, but I know how stressful it is at this stage wondering if you have done the right thing, raised the right issues, got the appropriate things written in the report etc.

A bit at his reaction to having a diagnosis before 3. Hardly unusual unless you have managed to be fobbed off for years.

Yes, I was thinking that

Thanks for the advice and support, AngryWasp