Ed Psychologist?

[Flowertop]

Hi my DS2 started at an independant school in September. It is quite clear that he is very behind (year 2) in his learning and finds it a struggle to work on his own. His teacher has suggested that we see an Ed Psycologist to help us to find out if he has any learning issues. She can give me a London contact which would cost £500. Before I do this can anyone a) suggest anyone good in the Midlands area b) have any other ideas as to what I should be looking for or doing. It seems is Spatial (sp?) awareness is immature which affects his ability to organise his work. That is what his teacher said in his first report. Any useful help as to what direction I go in would be great.
Thanks

[chocolateteapot]

I have no idea about your area but my DD has dyspraxia and therefore struggles with spatial awareness. She was referred by her school to a paediatrician but a GP can also make this referral. As a result of her referral to the paed she was seen by our local hospital's co-ordination clinic where she received OT & Physio, they were absolutely brilliant.

Personally before going to an EP I would speak to your GP and see how receptive they are to a referral, they will also probably be able to recommend an Educational Psychologist. The provisions available do tend to vary though from area to area and can be a bit of a lottery .

[roisin]

If you go privately you should get seen pretty quickly. You may be able to get a referral through your GP, but it will probably take much longer.

There is a website with lists of Ed Psychs - I'll just see if I can find it for you.

[roisin]

here you go

[LIZS]

oo that's a useful site. Flowertop, our ds joined an independent school at Year 3 and was/still is "behind" in some areas despite being described as bright. He probably has dyspraxia, of which spatial awareness is one issue, and we are having a review with OT in the New Year to try to progress things again. I'm also wondering about asking re Ed Psychologist as for us things like exams are soon going to become an issue (ds is now Year 5)

[chocolateteapot]

Flowertop, agree with Roisin that if you go privately by an Ed Psych you will be seen quickly but meant that it might be worth talking to GP first as I think that it might be easier to get access to the other NHS therapies if appropriate, having done this. I could be completely wrong though and a private EP may be able to refer you. It's just that in some areas they are pretty geared up for this type of thing and there's a lot available. We found that SALT was rubbish here and paid for that ourselves privately but the co-ordination clinic was brilliant and sometimes DD would have 2 OTs and a physio working with her for about an hour. I'm not sure she would have necessarily got that if we'd gone straight to a private Ed Psych if that makes sense.

Lizs, I was told by DD's very good SENCO who has just left that the important thing with exams is to get extra time in place etc as early as possible. Apparently when they make decisions about this for GCSE they look at previous need to establish whether they are get it, therefore the early the get it the better. This is the state system though so not sure what happens in an independent school.