Agreement for Assessment?

[bitsnbobs]

My ds has been on an IEP for a year now but is still struggling. I spoke to his teacher and said that I would really like an assessment done to see if he could get any extra help (he had help with portage before starting school but it stopped there) and was told that he didn't need an assessment.What can I do now? Any advice appreciated.

[sarah573]

Is he on school action or school action+? If he's on SA+ and still struggling then they should really be asking for an assessment. If he's on SA then you need to ask them to raise this to SA+ (the main difference is SA is extra help from within the school SA+ starts involving other agencies).

You can ask for a statutory assessment to be made without the schools consent, but its obiviously better done with their co-operation.

[kid]

I would like to know the answer to this too.

I also wonder if anyone knows how long it takes for other agencies to become involved for a child that has been moved to SA+. It really is difficult to get answers from the school. I don't expect an exact date from them (would be nice though) but more an idea of the time scale I can expect to have to wait.

[bigcar]

I've been told by ds1 school that he needs an assessment, which has been agreed to, but that was before christmas so getting really fed up now! I think there is a sample letter on the IPSEA site to ask for an assessment, Had I known how this worked, I would have done it myself and not left it up to the school to do. The LEA have 6 weeks to reply to your request if you do it yourself.

[TotalChaos]

kid - I would phone up whatever the outside agencies are, and ask them what their waiting lists are at the mo, and doublecheck the referral procedure - as they may well accept a referral for your kid via you going to the GPs. Also ask the school whether they have actually referred your child for any outside help.

bitsnbobs - agree with bigcar. you can get sample letters and advice via the ipsea website (they also have a help line as well). There is another organisation called SOS SEN that provides similar help. An organisation called ParentPartnership may also help (all areas have one), but as it's part of the LEA, it's not really fully impartial.

[clarisa]

my ds has had school bring in various professionals, and has still had no end in problems. i requested an assesment and was refused, stating funds have not yet been exhausted!! it got so bad that I am HE my son until this is sorted out. he is still on role at school, but will not be going back there. obviously i am appealing against the decision, and with help from a few mums on here involved my local MP. Request a assesment yourself... at least then you know exactly when this was done and exactly what the plea is. good luck xx

[bitsnbobs]

Thanks for the helpful info.

Sarah573, I don't think he is on school action. I would like the schools cooperation but I don't think I am going to get it! I am thinking of getting a private assessment done but am worried how much it may cost. Has anyone had one done and if so was it very expensive?

I will have a look at the ipsea website too.

Tbh I am worried that even if Ds does have the assessment he still won't get any extra help in school but at least I will get some peace of mind and know how best I can help him.

[marmadukescarlet]

BNB a private assessment to what end?

I had a private Paed OT assess my DD for Dyspraxia, she is at an independent school where I pay for SENco. But I needed this to access the SENco and convince the school that DD couldn't help being so disorganised, it cost £400. If she was at a state school it probably would not be recognised by them as it is not a formal diagnosis or Statement of Statutory Needs.

If he has an IEP he must be on School Action, although I hadn't heard this term until recently and My DS has IEPs!

You can request an assessment for a 'Statement' but it is blardy hard, you have to provide written evidence to a panel - the school will be asked to contribute - if the panel see enough evidence to proceed you then go through the Statutory Assessment.

[kid]

marmadukescarlet, so a statutory assessment isn't just to identify their needs?
The document I found online stated

'A statutory assessment is an assessment carried out by an Educational Psychologist working directly for the LEA. The LEA have to carry out this type of assessment under the Education Act if a child is referred to them suspected of having a learning difficulty'

I am confused as to whether that is what I need for my daughter who has high indicators of dyslexia.

My DD was cause for concern for a year, then put on SA for 2 years, now moved to SA+. No official diagnosis been given which I want for ease of future education.

[marmadukescarlet]

No and yes kid.

A Statory Assessment establishes the need by taking evidence from HCPs, teachers and parents (inc ED Psch appointed by the LEA.)

From this evidence they then decide if they are going to make a Statement.

The Statement is a legally binding document which states how many hours of support, SALT and/or physio your child is entitled to receive to help that child access the curriculum (eg for those that have SEN), stay safe in school (eg for those that have no sense of danger) or access SN school (eg for those for whom mainstraem education is not suitable)etc.

[marmadukescarlet]

If you think your DD has dyslexia go to your GP and ask for a referral to see a Paediatric Occupational Therapist sometimes there will be a joint Ed Psych/OT clinic.

Actually I misread that and thought you'd written dyspraxia, I'm sorry I have no experience of Dyslexia - what does your school SENco say?

In our area Statements are for children with profound and complex problems who would be completely unable to have their educational needs met in mainstream schooling without one to one assistance. Which may be the case with Dyslexia, I do not know.

Sorry not much use there, was I?

[kid]

lol, any advice is useful so thanks.
The senco says that the EP is busy with other children
I have made an appt with our Dr and will be speaking to them about it.

The problem is my DD is struggling to keep up at school, this is the 3rd year that she is struggling despite lots of extra support in school, (intervention programmes). The gap is getting bigger and I am concerned about it getting too big to be able to close.

I am more worried about the situation of her going Secondary school without the Dyslexia being officially identified. Maybe I am worrying unduly, it doesn't feel that way at the moment though.

[bitsnbobs]

Thanks for info. I am going to the Dr as first port of call this week but was told by HV that I needed teachers say so before I can. Ds was offered an assessment by an educational psychologist before starting school which I stupidly declined at the time.Ds teacher has not mentioned School Action but then again she didn't explain his Iep to me either!

I hope I can get an assessment so if ds needs extra help I know in which direction to focus my energies. Saw on a different post someone said about the toe to toe reading scheme and this sounds interesting too.

I am not expecting one on one support for Ds but I would like to do as much as I can to help him at home if he doesn't get any extra support at school.

[dustystar]

I think you will really struggle to get a statement for dyslexia tbh. If the school are being unhelpful about referring for assessment then go to your GP. I don't understand why your HV told you that you needed the teachers say so though bits Complete nonsense.

[bitsnbobs]

Well she didn't know anything about the IEP's either so I was a bit wary! I know what you are saying about getting statement being difficult. Will just see how it goes at docs this week.

[swedishmum]

Kid, in our area the school (Senco) can refer a child to a cluster group meeting. They then decide if they'll send the specialist dyslexia teacher out to do a (short and unofficial( assessment. I had this for ds. Upshot is she agreed with our private assessment by Ed Psych from Dyslexia Action which means he'll get extra time for SATS etc, though he stays on SA as he gets no support from outside agencies.
A local sec school has a dyslexia unit but only takes statemented children. It's very hard to get a statement for dyslexia. You want as much stuff in writing before sec transfer. Ds would get no specialist support at any of the local non-selective schools as there are too many kids with greater problems. It's so unfair for him.