It's a little worrying the students are still being confirmed as having
dyslexia, which is something which should not be done lightly, by
internal assessors (who they?) without an assessment by an Ed
Psych at all. That aside, the Hardship fund, as others have said,
can be used to fund the diagnosis. The fund can start supporting
students from August, although students do have to be enrolled in
order to apply. One could possibly get the get the agreement of
whoever adminsisters the Hardship fund within an institution that
the cost of an assessment, undertaken in August or September,
would be reimbursed once the student has enrolled.
On 13 Jun 03, at 12:38, Faye Langston wrote:
> Keith
>
> I'm not a financey person but we have been told we cannot ring fence
> hardship funds and only eligible students can have funding for an Ed
> PSych - so am eager to work out how we can ring fence these funds as
> you seem to.
>
> Faye Langston
> Coventry University
>
> Keith Silvester wrote:
> >
> > Faye,
> >
> > Sorry, I was speaking in shorthand.... Our institution has agreed
> > that it will meet the cost of any (home) student taking the test,
> > which costs us currently £250 a go. We do not means test the
> > student, but they do have to 'physically' fill out a short
> > application form and apply for the Hardship Funds. The Psych then
> > invoices the institution direct, not the student. (Hope this is
> > worthy of the 'crystal mark'!)
> >
> > Keith
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Faye Langston [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: 13 June 2003 10:18
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Educational Psychologists reports for prospective
> > students
> >
> > Keith
> >
> > How does your hardship fund automatically pay for Ed Psych reports?
> > dont your students have to apply/be eligible?
> >
> > Faye Langston
> > Coventry University
> >
> > Keith Silvester wrote:
> > >
> > > Well, we undertake the 'full monty', using an outsourced psych who
> > > comes in every week. We know that LEAs won't accept anything less
> > > for DSA purposes. We pay it automatically from the Hardship Fund.
> > > The autumn term is the heavy period for testing. There are
> > > difficulties with students who want to be tested prior to
> > > enrolment, because we cannot use the Hardship Fund for them. So,
> > > I give them the choice - to get tested at their own expense prior
> > > to the course, or to wait till they're here.
> > >
> > > Keith Silvester
> > > Central School of Speech and Drama
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Faye Langston [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent: 12 June 2003 16:46
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Educational Psychologists reports for prospective
> > > students
> > >
> > > Hello all,
> > >
> > > We have had queries from prospective students about the University
> > > financing Educational Psychologists tests for Dyslexia prior to
> > > the start of term - as now LEAs wont accept eligibility for DSA's
> > > without a full test.
> > >
> > > In the past our internal assessors reports have been acceptable to
> > > LEA's/NHS as well as FE colleges own internal assessors who are
> > > not Ed Psychs - this is now not the case so it appears there is a
> > > shortfall for students who may have to wait for a full Ed Psych
> > > test to be eligible for DSA who wouldnt previously have had to
> > > wait for DSA eligibility at all.
> > >
> > > Are any other University's facing enquiries such as these? How are
> > > Ed Psych reports funded at your institution? Here at Coventry
> > > students have either been tested internally which has previously
> > > been acceptable to LEA's/NHS or have to apply for the Hardship
> > > Fund and if they are eligible that can pay for an Ed Psych test -
> > > but that only happens once students are here on their course.
> > >
> > > Obviously the current set up will mean students needs not being
> > > able to be assessed over the summer and so support delayed
> > > considerably for those without Ed PSychs but with Dyslexia tests
> > > and so I am anxious to find out what other University's are now
> > > doing to fund Ed Psychs prior to the start of term so that DSA
> > > assessments can take place????
> > >
> > > Apologies to colleagues if the above doesn't make sense - its been
> > > one of those days!
> > >
> > > Many thanks
> > >
> > > Faye Langston
> > > Disabilities Welfare Co-ordinator
> > > Coventry University
> > > [log in to unmask]
Bryan Jones
Disability Support Services Manager
Tel: 020 8411 5367
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