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Private ED Psych Assessors in Surrey Hampshire & time right for statementing?

James1

Hello 

Our son has just been diagnosed w ASD and is almost 8 years old. He has been on School Action Plus for some time yet never received any outside expert support ..eg. LEA Ed Psych. Pre diagnosis when we asked the school a this they said they were doing already doing taking all action that might reasonable come out of an assessment and anyway it was up to the LEA. When we contacted the LEA they first said that our son didnt meet criteria, then said the school had failed to budget for their services. 

During diagnostic process the Clinical Psychologist has clearly recommended full cognitive assessment. The LEA Ed Psych team have finally agreed to engage but have been so far coy about whether this will result in full assessment. 

With a recent diagnosits of ASD, which in many ways is very broad &generic description, we feel it's important to quickly get a clear profile of strengths, weaknesses, obstacles , development opportunities etc so that the interventions, especially at school will be effective. 

We have come to a conclusion that we need an independent Ed Psych Assessment just so we as parents quickly know wha the story is and can fight our SMS corner. 

 Two questions:

1.  Can anyone recommend a good independent Ed Psych assessor for kids with ASD in Surrey/Hampshire?

2. Based on situ described above is now the right time to press for a statement?

Parents

  • On School Action Plus, you should be receiving some outside input - otherwise it's just School Action. Although it does sound like you're getting some EP involvement now. I think the LA are unlikely to do a cognitive assessment unless you go down the statementing route. And yes, it is normally the EP who would do the cognitive assessment.

    I would recommend that you contact SOS!SEN - give their helpline a call, details on website:  www.sossen.org.uk - although they help people nationwide, they are based in Twickenham and have very good knowledge on Surrey/Hampshire. They also have walk in advice centres once a month in Aldershot, Twickenham and Thornton Heath - see website.

    SOS!SEN will also be able to recommend independent EPs to you - so do ask them.

    I think requests for statutory assessment are often turned down, but parents can then appeal and if you're lucky and have a good case then the LA may back down straight away and agree to assess, otherwise you have to go to tribunal. Of course you may be very lucky in the first place and they may just agree to assess from the beginning.

    For other recommendations of independent EPs, try your local NAS branch as they may have a parent forum. For Surrey, go to www.mugsy.org and sign up for their email forum and Hampshire, there is Hart & Rushmoor NAS who have a Facebook group and their website is www.nashandr.org, or for Alton/Bordon there is a Facebook group and www.nasalton.com

    It is likely that it is time to get ball rolling on statement, but get independent advice from SOS!SEN (or IPSEA) They will also be able to advise on most appropriate time to get independent EP assessment done.

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  • On School Action Plus, you should be receiving some outside input - otherwise it's just School Action. Although it does sound like you're getting some EP involvement now. I think the LA are unlikely to do a cognitive assessment unless you go down the statementing route. And yes, it is normally the EP who would do the cognitive assessment.

    I would recommend that you contact SOS!SEN - give their helpline a call, details on website:  www.sossen.org.uk - although they help people nationwide, they are based in Twickenham and have very good knowledge on Surrey/Hampshire. They also have walk in advice centres once a month in Aldershot, Twickenham and Thornton Heath - see website.

    SOS!SEN will also be able to recommend independent EPs to you - so do ask them.

    I think requests for statutory assessment are often turned down, but parents can then appeal and if you're lucky and have a good case then the LA may back down straight away and agree to assess, otherwise you have to go to tribunal. Of course you may be very lucky in the first place and they may just agree to assess from the beginning.

    For other recommendations of independent EPs, try your local NAS branch as they may have a parent forum. For Surrey, go to www.mugsy.org and sign up for their email forum and Hampshire, there is Hart & Rushmoor NAS who have a Facebook group and their website is www.nashandr.org, or for Alton/Bordon there is a Facebook group and www.nasalton.com

    It is likely that it is time to get ball rolling on statement, but get independent advice from SOS!SEN (or IPSEA) They will also be able to advise on most appropriate time to get independent EP assessment done.

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