There was some discussion about this on the list about 6 weeks ago. There are
additional 'problems' in that students with older reports will need a top up
assessment. The problem is not caused by LEAs.
I asked the DfES about this at a meeting and as far as I can see they were
persuaded by a working party and apparently by one educational psychologist that
a full EP report was desirable and in addaition that where this report was
some years old a top up assessment would be necessary.
They have set up a working party to discuss these issues. There is certainly
some merit in the objective that all reports should be as comprehensive and
representative of the student's actual difficulties as possible but it does seem
that this change has been made rather hastily. Regretably the DfES are
unlikely to be able to do anything about the 'unhelpfulness' of some reports from
EPs that are sometimes presented. As one LEA said to me, we have a number of
local specialist teachers who write excellent reports that we would rather
accept than wait to receive a report from an unknown EP that may not match it's
usefulness.
The only thing that FE colleges, schools and DOs can do at present is to make
sure that prospective students know what will be required and encourage the
srtudents to get a full report. There is no point arguing at the individual
level with an LEA as this is likely to delay matters further.
If you feel that this will be a big problem you might consider writing to the
DfES if possible giving numbers affected and the delays/waiting times in your
area. If DfES have an accurate picture of the position this may influence
their actions.
Mick Trott
In a message dated 13/06/03 09:01:09 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< The situation is the same here. I find it really strange, on the one hand
the DfES recognises the need for students to start their courses with
support in place, and has allowed LEAs to fund statutory assessments of need
to be carried out from Easter, providing medical evidence and an HE 1 form
has been submitted. On the other, the powers that be have made changes to
the status of dyslexia assessments that will ensure that a great many
dyslexic students will have to be on courses before they can be funded for
EP reports via the hardship fund. With the ensuing waiting times I think
that this will mean that many student will have to manage for most of their
first year of study before actually getting necessary support. This is
obviously discriminatory but I have no idea what the answer is. >>
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