Ed Psych visit

[debs40]

Well, finally had the EP visit.

She was very nice (at least to my face) and listened to all my concerns and took notes.

Interestingly, she said that the community paediatrician had been involved and asked her to raise DS at 'prism' - the multi-agency meeting with schools where children get flagged up - as school wasn't acting.

School told me they'd done this themselves.

She is going to see DS in class and will then continue working with him using dynamic assessments. She said she will also do some ASD training with all staff and issue a set of recommendations for school to follow. She said she will be checking that the recommendations are followed.

Anyway, she seemed fine (although I did give her the wrong note for her records - my list of rants about school rather than the neatly headed DS' needs note!)but I don't know what she'll make of it all after speaking to teachers. Mrs Fluffy 'it's all fine and lovely' is unfortunately on today still.

Of course, she also said we wouldn't get a statement as he's not failing academically and we wouldn't need a private EP report because she was dealing with it She conceded he may be underpeforming but children with statements are in the bottom 5th centile for IQ . I pointed out this was policy not legal criteria and that a statement was the only way to guarantee provision. She babbled on about 'panel's criteria.

Anyway, we'll see what comes of her report which she said she will do for next week's diagnostic panel meeting.

Oh what a shame - it all sounded so good until you got to that bit about the 5th centile for IQ.
Poppycock. My DS is average or slightly above for IQ.
At least if she does observe and assess she will be able to see for herself how he functions in school so that is a step in the right direction.

I hope you are going for a statutory assessment request anyway if you think he needs one. Stuff the panel's criteria about IQs! If he needs support to access his education which the school cannot provide he is entitled to a statement.

If they won't request one you can do it yourself with a private EP assessment if she won't support you.

I hope you get the diagnosis you want next week.

Thanks. They do all like to hide behind their figures and policies don't they? it will be interesting to see what she suggests and whether school think that is feasible from their resources.

Grr. The IQ thing is utter piffle.

DS1 has, undoubtedly, a very high IQ and is probably the brightest child in his class. I checked over his stuff, last night, since I had it to hand and his audit bandings are Academic:B Physical:D and Social:E with the summative banding given as E, since that's his worst and is what his statement is based on. The whole point of the statement is trying to prevent the fact that he finds it really hard to follow instructions/cope with change/cope with expectations/manage his emotions/influence the weather to his own liking from getting in the way of learning.

ouryve - when did you get a statement for him?

What are 'audit bandings'?

I should add that she looked at his results - very average for KS1 SATS and told me they were 'excellent' .

I said 'they're average'.

But I think her attitude was they're great considering what he has to deal with. But why shouldn't he be put in the same position as any other child in that class who has a high IQ?

"Of course, she also said we wouldn't get a statement as he's not failing academically and we wouldn't need a private EP report because she was dealing with it She conceded he may be underpeforming but children with statements are in the bottom 5th centile for IQ . I pointed out this was policy not legal criteria and that a statement was the only way to guarantee provision. She babbled on about 'panel's criteria".

Debs, this woman you were unfortunate enough to see takes the cake.

The first bit is her towing the party line - if I had £1 for every time I had read similar on this forum I would be a rich woman!. EPs are employed by the LEA and are therefore under much pressure not to recommend statementing due to cost.
The IQ thing she spouted is also a load of bollocks and completely untrue. Statements are also for addressing social/communication needs as well as educational ones.

I don't know how this EP can sleep at night honestly, presumably she fully believes her own words.

You realise that you've been told a complete pile of crap haven;t you?. But how many people would actually believe this nonsense?. Well done for challenging her assertions.

All this just further delays everything, all this dynamic assessments hoohaa. Its all a complete waste of time if school won't follow it and she won't be able to do much if they do not. I would put in your request for a Statement sharpish and then it gives you six weeks of breathing space whilst the LEA make up their mind.

Attila, she did preface it all with 'can I be blunt?' before telling me he was too clever for a statement despite his average attainment and his clear social communication/sensory needs.

So, I replied 'can I equally blunt?' and then went on to describe the fact that I was aware of the difference between law and policy and that I had read the Lamb report and understood the difficult position EPs were placed in.

She tried to say she was saying this as an EP not an employee of an LA but I did tell her that there was no way of guaranteeing that needs were met without a statement despite what she said.

She knows we are getting an independent EP report although she was a bit you don't need one. I said we wanted to satisfy ourselves that every avenue had been exhausted.

Now if she had said, "now can I try to bamboozle you with LEA speak?" that would have been more apt.

Again, well done on challenging her. Some parents would not have done this.

Independent EP will be helpful to you as parents though what the LEA will make of it initially is anyone's guess.

DS has a high IQ although it is spiky - he is definitely not in the bottom 5th centile - and he has a statement. It's a shame that she won't support a statement, but with your independent report I'm sure you'll be in a strong position to get one.

What tosh. I have just requested a SA and am expecting to be told the same thing about my ds. I have found out however that there are 2 boys at the local grammar school with AS who both have statements. The school is notoriously difficult to get into and they will only take the brightest pupils so how come they have managed to get s/m's?

Well from the first bit it sounds good.. I won't repeat what had already been said.. Just wanted to say well done for getting through today.

I have just been going over paper work and listing ds2 needs ready for my appointment on Monday. Wish me luck < bitter lol>.

I am ready and armed to deal with such IQ piffle... And have my mummy strong face on.

Onward and hopefully upward for you debs.

Hi Debs

You received the sort of tosh from the EP that i expected you would.

Just look at it as a fact-finding exercise enabling you to judge their strategies and level of incompetence / lack of understanding - knowing that eventually you will with your own evidence go for SA.

But well done for gritting teeth.

Thanks guys. I was expecting the EP to be a 'linesman for the county' so no great surprise. I think that is why I was kind of dreading this so much. It was something to be GOT THROUGH rather than something beneficial. Although, it may be of some benefit in school in the short term.

For example, she said she would stress the importance of preparing for change which could help. DS has another class trip tomorrow (40 minute walk to a farm). Found out yesterday. No warning. No prep with him.Not sure what they're planning to do if it rains?? He hates rain. I put a note in the home/school book this morning about it asking that they let me know about the plans. Got note back saying 'will let you know when school trip has been organised' ....obviously, thinking I meant annual school trip. Round in circles I go!

And, at least the EP was pleasant to my face which can make a sadly refreshing change!

Exactly. I did make those points but thought I would push it no further for now. Have independent SALT organised for end of month.

Makes me so angry that they tell these lies.

J is of average-above average intelligence according to all EP tests, though he is very reluctant to comply.

However, he has full time 1:1 support, SALT, OT, because he needs them to be able to cope in the building, let alone access the curriculum!

Good luck with the nonsense, debs.

Blimey debs40 Not sure even I would have had the nerve to say what you did and I am become a bit emotionally numb when dealing with these people now.

Well done you.

Get you on that SA band wagon. You can always cancel/halt it if things miraculously improve.

Debs40 - sorry, this thread sunk and I forgot to check back!

The audit bandings are a rating given for severity of needs in each of these areas - his E banding for Social ability is his worst area. I think they vary somewhat through LEAs and I don't know if they all use them.

Anyhow, he had a statement in place by the end of his first half term in reception.

Good on your for sticking your ground and going for the private report, anyhow.

Thanks ouvrye. Interestingly, I attended a course on SA/SA+ with the local parent partnership today and the tales about the rubbish local authority reps, me it EP or otherwise, tell parents is incredible. As is the amount of lying that goes on in relation to schools and provision. Amazing

Where did the tales come from debs? PP or parents?

Both actually, the PP reps were very forthright and open.