Hi everyone,
I'm looking for some help/guidance.
My daughter has been refusing school for the past couple of years. She sometimes goes in and spends time with an SEN TA in a 1:1 setting. She cannot do lessons as she has such severe anxiety- mainly triggered by sensory responses to the classroom environment, but also difficulties with friends and understanding instructions from teachers etc etc...
The school are pushing for an ASD assessment,but had their most recent referrals declined by CYPS on the basis that my daughter had not engaged with Primary Mental Health Services first and there not being enough 'evidence'.
I met with the education welfare officer yesterday who said that CYPS are no longer diagnosing ASD. Is this true?
My daughter also can't access Virtual School without a CYPS 'diagnosis'/ certification that she is unfair for mainstream.
My questions are:
What is the minimum amount of evidence CYPS need to accept a referral?
Who can I go to now for an assessment?
I feel like we have been going round in circles for years at the expense of my daughter's mental health ànd education.
I understand there has to be a process but this seems impossible! Why is it so hard???