Re: pre-assesment meeting with educational psychologist

[Guest guest]

Kasia,

I think this is a very difficult post to answer because there are so many

different things in it, and I only have five minutes.

I think you need to work out what everybody's role is and to learn a bit about

education law.

Educational psychologists do not diagnose and have no medical background. They

are ex-teachers who have done (one year?) training in educational psychology.

Clinical psychologists can diagnose but are not qualified to advise about

education.

If you are in England then get hold of the 2001 SEN Code of Practice: it's free

from the government and is also available on-line.

If you are in Scotland than you will need to learn about the law and the system

there.

Perhaps if you can post to say where you are there might be a listmate who could

advise you about how to get a proper diagnosis for your child. Once you have a

diagnosis people will take your child more seriously.

Contact a Family has experience of helping families where there is no diagnosis.

In the mean time there is no reason why your child's special educational needs

(SEN)shouldn't be identified and described. A diagnosis would help in that

people would then have some idea of the prognosis.

I think you already know that professionals all too frequently tailor what they

say to the demands of their bosses.

A child's (SEN) can be identified at any time and certainly any policy not to do

so until school age is unlawful.

Good luck,

Margaret

>

> We have a pre-assessment meeting with an ed psychologist coming on Friday. I

asked for support for Jakub back in October, but I was told by his teacher (who

is also a principle and now acting deputy) that the support is only there for

school age kids (Jakub is in nursery). Jakub still doesn't have an official

diagnosis (speech delay, disorder or autism). Lorane Amet assessed him and said

he is not autistic although he has some characteristics.

> So there we are. I have no idea what to expect and ask for. What can she

offer? I discover often that the professionals don't offer stuff they could if

they are not asked directly for the specific thing. Can she refer me somewhere

else? Should I say anything about biomedical we are doing? Should I mention any

problems we don't know how to deal with (like Jakub hitting us- nothing seems to

work, diary free diet worked for a while, we referred our self to a non NHS

family therapy so we will get help with that anyway). I am a bit worried,

because of other stories I have read here, and don't want to give any info they

could use against us.They did not delivered any services for almost a year so

they may be looking for someone to blame

> Is it a good idea to give them a report of Jakub's learning/improvement (he

was off for long times due to constant colds and ear infection) and we do a lot

at home with him?

> Kasia

>

[Guest guest]

poor you, well I would wait for the LEA assessment as quite honestly at the moment the NHS AND LEA are not rerally listening too much to private asssessments. I am in the same boat except we want to de-label.. Its a disgrace when all we wnat is help fvor our kids and for them to reach theie full potential. x ninaFrom: kjaworowska <kjaworowska@...>To:

Autism Treatment Sent: Thursday, 4 June, 2009 8:58:49Subject: pre-assesment meeting with educational psychologist

We have a pre-assessment meeting with an ed psychologist coming on Friday. I asked for support for Jakub back in October, but I was told by his teacher (who is also a principle and now acting deputy) that the support is only there for school age kids (Jakub is in nursery). Jakub still doesn't have an official diagnosis (speech delay, disorder or autism). Lorane Amet assessed him and said he is not autistic although he has some characteristics.

So there we are. I have no idea what to expect and ask for. What can she offer? I discover often that the professionals don't offer stuff they could if they are not asked directly for the specific thing. Can she refer me somewhere else? Should I say anything about biomedical we are doing? Should I mention any problems we don't know how to deal with (like Jakub hitting us- nothing seems to work, diary free diet worked for a while, we referred our self to a non NHS family therapy so we will get help with that anyway). I am a bit worried, because of other stories I have read here, and don't want to give any info they could use against us.They did not delivered any services for almost a year so they may be looking for someone to blame

Is it a good idea to give them a report of Jakub's learning/improvemen t (he was off for long times due to constant colds and ear infection) and we do a lot at home with him?

Kasia

[Guest guest]

--- I don't know whether this is the norm, that there is no support at nursery,

but my daughter had full support at her nursery. She did have a diagnosed

syndrome as well. It is part of a resource based school, so I don't know

whether this made the difference.

Best Wishes

Glynis

In Autism Treatment , " kjaworowska " <kjaworowska@...>

wrote:

>

> We have a pre-assessment meeting with an ed psychologist coming on Friday. I

asked for support for Jakub back in October, but I was told by his teacher (who

is also a principle and now acting deputy) that the support is only there for

school age kids (Jakub is in nursery). Jakub still doesn't have an official

diagnosis (speech delay, disorder or autism). Lorane Amet assessed him and said

he is not autistic although he has some characteristics.

> So there we are. I have no idea what to expect and ask for. What can she

offer? I discover often that the professionals don't offer stuff they could if

they are not asked directly for the specific thing. Can she refer me somewhere

else? Should I say anything about biomedical we are doing? Should I mention any

problems we don't know how to deal with (like Jakub hitting us- nothing seems to

work, diary free diet worked for a while, we referred our self to a non NHS

family therapy so we will get help with that anyway). I am a bit worried,

because of other stories I have read here, and don't want to give any info they

could use against us.They did not delivered any services for almost a year so

they may be looking for someone to blame

> Is it a good idea to give them a report of Jakub's learning/improvement (he

was off for long times due to constant colds and ear infection) and we do a lot

at home with him?

> Kasia

>

[Guest guest]

Hello

2009/6/4 kjaworowska <kjaworowska@...>:

> We have a pre-assessment meeting with an ed psychologist coming on Friday. I

asked for support for Jakub back in October, but I was told by his teacher (who

is also a principle  and now acting deputy) that the support is only there for

school age kids (Jakub is in nursery). Jakub still doesn't have an official

diagnosis (speech delay, disorder or autism). Lorane Amet assessed him and said

he is not autistic although he has some characteristics.

> So there we are. I have no idea what to expect and ask for. What can she

offer? I discover often that the professionals don't offer stuff they could if

they are not asked directly for the specific thing. Can she refer me somewhere

else? Should I say anything about biomedical we are doing?

* Dont mention the biomed but you might want to mention the diet and

how if it has helped him.

Should I mention any problems we don't know how to deal with (like

Jakub hitting us- nothing seems to work, diary free diet worked for a

while, we referred our self to a non NHS family therapy so we will get

help with that anyway).

* yes mention those issues as well could help you get respite care later on.

I am a bit worried, because of other stories I have read here, and

don't want to give any info they could use against us.They did not

delivered any services for almost a year so they may be looking for

someone to blame

> Is it a good idea to give them a report of Jakub's learning/improvement (he

was off for long times due to constant colds and ear infection) and we do a lot

at home with him?

> Kasia

--

is

[Guest guest]

Of course, but it's important to know what the framework is and to know about

education law and to get expert advice otherwise you will be screwed by the

system.

Margaret

> > >

> > > We have a pre-assessment meeting with an ed psychologist coming on

> > Friday. I asked for support for Jakub back in October, but I was told

> > by his teacher (who is also a principle and now acting deputy) that

> > the support is only there for school age kids (Jakub is in nursery).

> > Jakub still doesn't have an official diagnosis (speech delay, disorder

> > or autism). Lorane Amet assessed him and said he is not autistic

> > although he has some characteristics.

> > > So there we are. I have no idea what to expect and ask for. What can

> > she offer? I discover often that the professionals don't offer stuff

> > they could if they are not asked directly for the specific thing. Can

> > she refer me somewhere else? Should I say anything about biomedical we

> > are doing? Should I mention any problems we don't know how to deal

> > with (like Jakub hitting us- nothing seems to work, diary free diet

> > worked for a while, we referred our self to a non NHS family therapy

> > so we will get help with that anyway). I am a bit worried, because of

> > other stories I have read here, and don't want to give any info they

> > could use against us.They did not delivered any services for almost a

> > year so they may be looking for someone to blame

> > > Is it a good idea to give them a report of Jakub's

> > learning/improvement (he was off for long times due to constant colds

> > and ear infection) and we do a lot at home with him?

> > > Kasia

> > >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I personally wouldn't mention anything about biomed to an LA educational

psychologist who's come to assess my child - it's way out of their field of

knowledge and experience and it coyuld make them think you're a crank.

Margaret

>

> Hello

>

> 2009/6/4 kjaworowska <kjaworowska@...>:

> > We have a pre-assessment meeting with an ed psychologist coming on Friday. I

asked for support for Jakub back in October, but I was told by his teacher (who

is also a principle  and now acting deputy) that the support is only there for

school age kids (Jakub is in nursery). Jakub still doesn't have an official

diagnosis (speech delay, disorder or autism). Lorane Amet assessed him and said

he is not autistic although he has some characteristics.

> > So there we are. I have no idea what to expect and ask for. What can she

offer? I discover often that the professionals don't offer stuff they could if

they are not asked directly for the specific thing. Can she refer me somewhere

else? Should I say anything about biomedical we are doing?

>

> * Dont mention the biomed but you might want to mention the diet and

> how if it has helped him.

>

> Should I mention any problems we don't know how to deal with (like

> Jakub hitting us- nothing seems to work, diary free diet worked for a

> while, we referred our self to a non NHS family therapy so we will get

> help with that anyway).

>

> * yes mention those issues as well could help you get respite care later on.

>

> I am a bit worried, because of other stories I have read here, and

> don't want to give any info they could use against us.They did not

> delivered any services for almost a year so they may be looking for

> someone to blame

> > Is it a good idea to give them a report of Jakub's learning/improvement (he

was off for long times due to constant colds and ear infection) and we do a lot

at home with him?

> > Kasia

>

>

>

> --

> is

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you very much for replies everyone .

Just to clarify we are in Scotland and we are waiting for a multi- professional

diagnosis which is on the 3 of July in the communication clinic in Edinburgh

(neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, speech therapist and OT). Jakub's

teacher lied to us when he said there is no support for kids like Jakub. I

eventually called the ed psych and she was very surprised J was not referred by

the school in October last year.

Kasia

[Guest guest]

Kasia,

I just wanted to second this, we had support at nursery also and this was before

an official diagnosis. All they are doing really is trying to fob you off, waste

time and of course this delaying tactic saves them money, by not supporting your

childs needs as they should now!

Nikki

In Autism Treatment , " Glynis Steele " <pyn1pyn1@...>

wrote:

>

> --- I don't know whether this is the norm, that there is no support at

nursery, but my daughter had full support at her nursery. She did have a

diagnosed syndrome as well. It is part of a resource based school, so I don't

know whether this made the difference.

>

> Best Wishes

>

> Glynis

>

> In Autism Treatment , " kjaworowska " <kjaworowska@>

wrote:

> >

> > We have a pre-assessment meeting with an ed psychologist coming on Friday. I

asked for support for Jakub back in October, but I was told by his teacher (who

is also a principle and now acting deputy) that the support is only there for

school age kids (Jakub is in nursery). Jakub still doesn't have an official

diagnosis (speech delay, disorder or autism). Lorane Amet assessed him and said

he is not autistic although he has some characteristics.

> > So there we are. I have no idea what to expect and ask for. What can she

offer? I discover often that the professionals don't offer stuff they could if

they are not asked directly for the specific thing. Can she refer me somewhere

else? Should I say anything about biomedical we are doing? Should I mention any

problems we don't know how to deal with (like Jakub hitting us- nothing seems to

work, diary free diet worked for a while, we referred our self to a non NHS

family therapy so we will get help with that anyway). I am a bit worried,

because of other stories I have read here, and don't want to give any info they

could use against us.They did not delivered any services for almost a year so

they may be looking for someone to blame

> > Is it a good idea to give them a report of Jakub's learning/improvement (he

was off for long times due to constant colds and ear infection) and we do a lot

at home with him?

> > Kasia

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Nicola, I was not aware of those places .

Kasia