Private OT report?

[pucca]

I am paying for a private OT (sensory integration specialist) to see ds tomorrow, when i mentioned it to the Headteacher she said the report isn't really that useful for statementing or anything because its private...is this right?

No is the short answer. Without a statement school can pick and choose what recommendations to follow and would probably ignore private reports (ds's school did).

But it would be very helpful for a statement.

Thanks Claw3, even if it is useless i would still go ahead with the assessment as i am getting no support from anywhere else, so hopefully this OT can help me help ds

Btw the EP saw ds a few weeks back and has said he needs a statement, without any doubt. We are just waiting on the report coming through.

I don't know what the official line is (if there is one), but where we live our private OT report has been taken seriously by NHS OT and all others - it was specifically looking at sensory integration.

We have used it for statutory assessment (ongoing) too and I know professionals, especially Ed Psych and OT have referred to it. Even if they were not interested in it we would have put it in ourselves anyway - it all adds to the picture of your DC.

Regardless, we found it useful for us to understand and help our DS.

Ampers...When i mentioned what HT said to the OT she said it was a load of rubbish, that her report is a legal document and has to be taken into consideration by all...but i just wanted to check with the powers that be on MN first, i always find the answers on here

Thankyou.

It wont be useless, i assume you are forking out for a private assessment as you already know your ds has difficulties, this will just back up your concerns.

What Head means is school wont follow the recommendations. Any difficulties that are highlighted in the report and are unsupported by the school, will be extremely helpful when applying for a statement. This is exactly statementing stuff.

Head Teacher is talking crap

Good luck.

Thanks Claw3...yes he has huge sensory difficulties plus other issues (impacted bowel, ASD traits, GDD, glue ear which he wears hearing aids for, and is on melatonin fast and slow for sleep disorder) which hopefully this OT will help with the sensory stuff, we are currently sat on the waiting list for CAHMs which is a min of 10 weeks.

My ds starts reception in Sept and i am panicking now as to how he will cope but i am hoping the OT will make a difference.

Meant min of 10 weeks wait

MrsMag...I can't afford it really , but i get DLA for ds so i use it on the stuff i need for him, and the lovely OT is letting me pay over 2 mths.

Still on the waiting list for CAHMs...god knows when we will get an appt though.

Forgot to add the CAHMs appt is the initial appt, not for their OT. Its taken 15 mths of going to the child developement centre to get a referral to CAHMs.

Hi, I would definately agree that a private OT assessment would be extremely useful for the statementing procedure. Have you tried here. They may be able to help you with the private ot assessment.
HTH

Squash...Thanks for that link, had a nosy but they don't help with OT's unfortunately...my ds is on my parents benenden health policy but they don't help with it either.

I am not that bothered really as i said i get DLA for ds so i like to of course spend it on him (his money really afterall).

Well...She came, so much made sense. She has said ds definitely has SPD. She also said from her observation in preschool although ds looks like he is sociable (which the preschool keep saying he is fine, and contradicting me really) he just has a couple of friends that he literally tags onto, and he copies them. No communication or interacting really goes on.

She did say they will help him once he starts in Sept though, like a little support group as they seem to like him.

So she is going to do the report, and get a weighted blanket on a trial for me to try and set up a sensory diet for ds.

"7:16 Before deciding whether to make an assessment the LEA must issue a notice under
section 323(1) or 329A(3) of the Education Act 1996. The LEA:

......ix. should tell parents that they may also provide any private advice or opinions, which
they have or can obtain, and that this advice will be taken into account." SEN COP 2002

Oooh thanks for that Lougle...very handy to know