Parents

What to do if you suspect your child has a learning difficulty

Speak to your child’s class teacher or Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENDCo).  If they also have concerns, then you should seek help.  Remember that a child with learning difficulties may seem to be doing well academically but may be stressed or suffering with poor mental health. 

 

Where to seek help

For a learning difficulty, you can approach you child’s SENDCo who will bring in an Educational Psychologist to assess you child. This may take a long time so be patient and persistent.  

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For Autism and ADHD you can go to you local doctor and ask for a referral to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). 

For a dyslexia or dyscalculia diagnosis you could also get a private assessment.  Only a certified specialist or registered Educational Psychologist can make a diagnosis.

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An Educational Psychologist must be registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). The SASC and BDA websites have lists of tutors that are certified specialists.  The Dyscalculia Network has list of maths tutors and assessors.

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It is important that the assessor has the relevant level 7 qualification and recommended that they also have the following:

• AMBDA status (to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest research and testing methods)

• a current Enhanced DBS

• Professional Indemnity Insurance

• An Assessment Practicing Certificate (APC)

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An APC recognises professional achievement at postgraduate level as well as a commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). An APC is renewed every three years through an APC awarding body by providing evidence of report writing practice which meets appropriate guidelines and evidence of relevant CPD. After three submissions, assessors are not required to submit a report, only CPD.

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If a report is to be used as evidence to apply for Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA), the assessor must have a current APC at the time of completing the assessment and writing the report.

(See the BDA website for more information)

 

What happens next?

A diagnosis is the starting point to get the correct support for your child.  The next step is to contact your child’s SENDCo and request an EHCP for school.

 

Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP)

An EHCP is given to individuals with significant and/or complex needs. It outlines the individual’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) and the requirements for the individual’s education in terms of placement and curriculum adjustments that are required.

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An EHCP is given to individuals who are either needing a placement at a specialist resource provision (special school) or need significant adjustments to the curriculum and/or significant amounts of 1:1 support in a mainstream school. An EHCP can be given at any age from birth and lasts until the individual is 25 years old.

 

Access Arrangements

An EHCP will ensure you child receives Access Arrangements for exams but these can still be applied for with a diagnosis. 

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These are reasonable adjustments such as:

• Extra time

• A reader

• A scribe

• The use of an exam reading pen, a word processor or assistive software

• Modified exam papers

• Supervised rest breaks

• Alternative rooming arrangements

 

Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA)

Only a report written by an assessor with a current APC at the time of completing the assessment and writing the report can be used as evidence to apply for Disabled Student’s Allowance. 

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Disabled Students’ Allowance is support to cover the study-related costs in further education because of a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability.  It is additional to student finance and does not have to be paid back. 

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DSA can get help with the costs of specialist equipment such as a computer, or other disability-related study support such as printing additional copies of documents for proof-reading.