Education psychologist been...feel like i've hit a brick wall. What now? :o(

delain

teabag29 wrote: »

Unfortunately not. the doctor requested a education psychologist report and they refused and wrote back saying they have other children with higher educational need than my dd. I contacted the education psychologist myself and explained all about dds behaviour and learning issues and he said he has a trainee who is a qualified teacher and has 2 degree's and a pgce who is training to be a education psychologist and looking to work with someone like my daughter and so they accepted my referral. She is only a trainee though

I wouldn't be put off by by her being a trainee, if anything it'll mean she'll be very dedicated to helping your DD, and will have more time to spend with her.

teabag29

I've just spoken to parent partnership who have made me feel alot better. They are a god send. Firstly they told me that if school are saying they dont do IEPs then I should be asking "where's the provision mapping then?" as they need to be letting me know somehow what stage my daughter is at and her progress. Secondly they told me to ask school for the anti-bullying policy and the complaints policy and this will more than likely give them a shift in the right direction.

They told me that although my daughter may not meet the criteria for the special needs school, I could contact them directly to arrange a meeting to explain all of daughters problems and my concerns and see if they can do her a link (i.e. where she goes there 1-2 day a week to see if she improves during that setting and if so use this as evidence). With regards to no funding to move daughter to school action plus, they said this is trubbish and that regardless of how many children with educational needs are in the school their job is to make sure my daughters needs are being met. They said if they dont have enough funding then they should go to the lea and apply for more funding but chances are they wont do this because they probablly have got funds.

They said in the meantime I should ask school about the school anxirty project and also at the caff to emphasise that she should definately be on school action plus as she is receiving outside help from the e.p and camhs so meets the criteria. Without going through this stage she wont be able to get statemented as the lea will want to see that everything has been tried to help before statementing her. They are going to come to the caff with me so that they can put this across. I just hope the caff doesnt take to long to happen now. im signing the papers on Friday for it, does anyone know how long it takes after this for the actual meeting and also who will be there?

Darlyd

teabag29 wrote: »

I've just spoken to parent partnership who have made me feel alot better. They are a god send. Firstly they told me that if school are saying they dont do IEPs then I should be asking "where's the provision mapping then?" as they need to be letting me know somehow what stage my daughter is at and her progress. Secondly they told me to ask school for the anti-bullying policy and the complaints policy and this will more than likely give them a shift in the right direction.

They told me that although my daughter may not meet the criteria for the special needs school, I could contact them directly to arrange a meeting to explain all of daughters problems and my concerns and see if they can do her a link (i.e. where she goes there 1-2 day a week to see if she improves during that setting and if so use this as evidence). With regards to no funding to move daughter to school action plus, they said this is trubbish and that regardless of how many children with educational needs are in the school their job is to make sure my daughters needs are being met. They said if they dont have enough funding then they should go to the lea and apply for more funding but chances are they wont do this because they probablly have got funds.

They said in the meantime I should ask school about the school anxirty project and also at the caff to emphasise that she should definately be on school action plus as she is receiving outside help from the e.p and camhs so meets the criteria. Without going through this stage she wont be able to get statemented as the lea will want to see that everything has been tried to help before statementing her. They are going to come to the caff with me so that they can put this across. I just hope the caff doesnt take to long to happen now. im signing the papers on Friday for it, does anyone know how long it takes after this for the actual meeting and also who will be there?

School referred my Daughter to CAFF 3 weeks ago. I have not heard a word yet.

Allegra

teabag29 wrote: »

I just hope the caff doesnt take to long to happen now. im signing the papers on Friday for it, does anyone know how long it takes after this for the actual meeting and also who will be there?

My understanding is - and this is what happened with my DD's CAF - is that the school (or whoever inititates the CAF) set the date and decide who will be present - that is to say, people that are supposed to be present are people who have been invited by the school. You and/or DD should be involved in the completing of the form, and have a say as to who you think should be invited to the meeting.

In case of my daughter, and off the top of my head (I might miss someone), besides us and the school, people expected at the meeting are CAMHS, the AS support team from the county, the educational psychologist, and the social services (with a view to giving us some much-needed support in dealing with DD, whether by providing a service or via direct payments. I'll believe it when I see it, but that's the theory, anyway). As for the timescale, we completed the form last Wednesday, and the meeting has been set for 06/06. It might take longer or shorter than this, depending on the availability of the people invited to an individual CAF, but I am told that the theory is that all people invited should be dropping whatever they are doing and making themselves available when a CAF is requested. In practice, of course..... But we shall see

bestpud

I hope you get something sorted soon but it looks as though you may have a long wait ahead.

Can I just say, don't rule out home education.

The social argument is one every non home educator thinks of first, but it's utter tosh as home educated children actually have a more balanced and positive social life than your average school child.

I also know many parents who educate their child for the same reasons and they do far better with one to one help.

There is lots of support out there - nobody is alone with home ed unless they choose to be. You can't force a child to be confident by subjecting then to a daily round of bullying and stress - that just doesn't make sense, but people still think it's better for a child to 'face up' to years of torment rather than take them out and allow them to develop healthy relationships.

It may not be for you, and thats fine, but it's worth looking at the facts rather than accepting the uneducated view of home ed.

QuiteNice

It makes no difference whatsoever to the school's funding whether they move your daughter from school action to school action plus - what it may mean is that they have to pay for assessments and other support from their local authority. This may not even be the case if they are under a local authority that doesn't delegate all AEN funding to the school.

I would say your daughter is already at the stage where she is SA+ if there is involvement from CAHMS, Ed Pysch and they are now completing a CAF.

Keep getting help from Parent Partnership and get yourself a copy of the SEN code of practice (available online) - it sounds like you have unfortunately picked a school with lots of SEN and a less than enthusiastic SENCo - and if the Ed Psych is telling you to look at alternative provision, take them seriously.

Out of interest, which local authority are you in?

concerned43

Been there done that!! and in the end I moved my DS to another school (30 miles away)that did have the funds...by moving him to a catholic school!
They had £1750 per child per year as opposed to the school that he was in that had £50 per child. I was tired of fighting with the school, Ed. authorities and even the minister for education! so I took matters into my own hands and moved!
Tho I have problems wit his school one of them is not money/support.

kafkathecat

I also know many many children with special educational needs who are home educated. It is so much easier than it sounds as you are working with your child who you know so well. Rather than being isolated I find we have to miss some social events just to get any work done. I have seen children go from being close to a breakdown to being happy social people through being home educated. It isn't for everyone but is definitely worth looking into, there is a HE Specials forum out there somewhere who may be able to advise further. K.

bestpud

kafkathecat wrote: »

I also know many many children with special educational needs who are home educated. It is so much easier than it sounds as you are working with your child who you know so well. Rather than being isolated I find we have to miss some social events just to get any work done. I have seen children go from being close to a breakdown to being happy social people through being home educated. It isn't for everyone but is definitely worth looking into, there is a HE Specials forum out there somewhere who may be able to advise further. K.

Tell me about it! :rotfl:

We also have to select what we can fit in rather than hunt for things to do!

teabag29

Thanks for all the advice. I would love to move my daughter's school and she is baptized catholic so a catholic school would be great but there would be no way I could get her to another school, i dont drive and have to get the younger kids to primary school. I couldnt trust daughter in a taxi or on the bus as she has no sense of danger and has almost been run over as she couldnt remember if it was the red or green light that meant it was safe to cross. if I could get round the transport issue I would pull her out of the school tomorrow.

With regards to home education this really wouldn't be an option for me. Firstly I have a toddler at home that is a little hyper and I doubt very much I could give my daughter the time and dedication she would need with my toddler taking up so much of my time. Secondly, my daughter has serious behavioural problems which are much worse when she is at home so trying to get her to learn would be nigh on impossible, my only respite is when she is at school as I don't really have much in the way of support.