I recently had the very great pleasure of attending a talk given by the wonderful  Sandy Row, mother of 4 adoptive siblings with SEN, and author of ‘Surviving the SEN system: How to be a velvet bulldozer’.

Surviving the Special Educational Needs System: How to be a 'Velvet Bulldozer', by Sandy Row.  Published September 2004 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 1 84310 262 5

Sandy Row has four adopted children, all of whom it has transpired have special educational needs, all on the Autistic Spectrum (Asperger’s Syndrome, Semantic Pragmatic Disorder). Some have ADHD, Dyslexia, Auditory Processing Disorder and Dyspraxia as well.. Sandy and her husband have battled for years to achieve accurate diagnoses, Statements and assistance for the children - fighting two Tribunals against the LEA barristers on the way. ‘A pea-shooter against a tank,’ as she wryly comments. Finally they feel hopeful about their children’s futures and want to share their story and the useful contacts and information they have gained during their journey. Sandy kept reading books that told her what should happen. Her book tells you what actually does happen!

It was heartening to hear of her struggles with the SEND system, and her ongoing quest to get appropriate provision for ‘The Famous Four’.  If you are a parent engaged in a struggle with your Local Authority regarding provision for your child with SEN, you would be well advised to read Sandi’s moving and helpful account of their experiences.  To order her book, and for much more useful information and contacts, please visit Sandi’s website at http://www.special-educational-needs.co.uk

A Cautionary Tale regarding Organisations offering 'Assessments' for your young child with SEN.

If you choose to take your child along to an organisation which offers 'assessments' of their needs - including diagnoses, please remember to check that the people who conduct the assessments and proffer the diagnoses are actually professionally qualified to do so! Here's why.....

I spoke to one such voluntary funded organisation and they don't 'as standard' use an Educational Psychologist as part of their assessment team. Instead they have their own Developmental Therapists who are 'trained in their organisation's own methods to assess the child holistically'

If parents want an Educational Psychologist to be involved in the assessment they have to pay separately for this, whilst the rest of the assessment is not charged for.

The concerns and issues I have with this are about the quality, robustness and rigour of the diagnosis and assessment, and the value and utility of the report. I am not suggesting that their diagnoses might be incorrect, merely that Developmental Therapists (a meaningless term without any professional regulation) do not necessarily have the skills and professional competence to make these diagnoses and assessments.

Also, without an Educational Psychologist's assessment, the report will be valueless. This is particularly the case if, as parents, your intended outcome is to get your Local Authority to complete a Statutory Assessment of your child's needs, and to issue a Statement of SEN.

A good report from an HPC Registered professional will contain information about your child's current needs (for Part 2 of the Statement), the provision required to meet those needs, for Part 3, and some recommendations about appropriate placement for the child (for Part 4 of the Statement).

Contact me if this approach to assessment and diagnosis of your child's needs is what you are looking for.

Visit my testimonials page to read what other parents and professionals have said about my reports.

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