Should my dyspraxic child have been referred to an Education Pyschologist?

Question

My son was diagnosed as dyspraxic at an Optemetry Clinic whilst in Year 3. I then approached the SENCO at my school who referred me to the local paediatrican and the Schools O/T Physio service. I was never referred to an Education Physchologist to Neurologist by the Paediatrican and wonder now if I should have been.

He is on an Action Plan Plus and is also in the Talented and Gifted Stream. His areas of difficulty are mainly his handwriting (he is left handed with no natural grip) and therefore struggles to take adequate notes in class. The school have offered a scribe but have no budget for a laptop.

Do I need to push for the Pyschologist/Neurologist referrals?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Firstly you have a child with dyspraxia not a dyspraxic child.

You need to go back to the SENCO team and insist on more support from them. It is not the schools responsibility to provide things if they dont have the funding, the responsibility lies with your local education authority. If the SENCO team dont help go directly to the LEA and keep pestering them, they are lazy and need a good kicking sometimes to make them act!!

Be strong and keep fighting, good luck

Answer 2

They always pull the Pyschologist for health issues the physical issue has nuthing to do with mental alot of times. School will use his stuff as excuse to order your child into special ed or certin programs and ways etc. Just ask your doc for advice hes all you need and tell the school how it should be. Dont let the school tell you.

Answer 3

If your child has special needs, and I remind you that special needs isn't only for children who fall in the mentally disabled catagory, then the school legally has to provide it. If they say they have no money for a laptop, tell them they legally have to find it.

Schools don't automatically want to stick all children in special ed classrooms. They try to keep them out as much as possible to keep cost down.

As far as the referrals. I suggest a Neuropsychologist to have a complete psychoeducational evaluation done. I might also add that the school has to pay for this as well. You just have to make them.

Answer 4

Yes I think he should be assessed by a clinical psychologist as dysphraxix children can have problems with co-ordination and behavioural problems.  He is probably very intelligent and the left handed weakness is common.

My youngest son is dyslexic and also left handed.  He was 10 and having a bad time at school so I took him off to Greece in a camper van for a year.  I didn't give him set lessons, just let him windsurf and enjoy himself.  He went to a new school when we got back where he excelled in maths.

He got a first in computer science and is happily married with two kids and a good job.  I wish you and your son all the best and try not to worry or pressure him.

Answer 5

The few symptoms you describe do not necessarily sound like dyspraxia and an optometry clinic is certainly not qualifies to diagnose it anyway.

My advice would be to have another chat with your son's teacher and headteacher and try to get them to express their opinion more clearly.  If he is on school action plus, then the problems certainly are there!

You could formally request a statutory assessment of your son's problems, which cannot be refused and would mean your son would come into contact with a range of professionals from various disciplines, including the educational psychologist.  To do this, simply write to the head teacher of the school and send a copy of the request to your local education authority.

He clearly has difficulties, but whether he has dyspraxia or not from what you describe is difficult to say.

Hope this helps.

Snowdrop

http://www.snowdrop.cc

Answer 6

Is your son statemented? If a child has an identified need that will effect them long term is worht applying for statementing which is done through educational psycologist. The school would then be able to claim for funding towards suitable equipment such as a laptop which will go with him from class to class as he gets older.

IT may be worth going back to your school SENCO and talking to him/her about this. If in doubt ask to speak to the Local Education Authority SENCO advisor.

Good Luck