The professional interactions with Debra Raye have been hugely appreciated and I wish we had done this years ago. I really enjoyed the session and feedback, and in the days that have followed I am more receptive to areas where I am not great, and also the approaches I have come to adopt over the years to be better. I will engage with all the strategies we discussed, and am excited for the future and using my brain in the best way to maximise my skill set. Debra, you are an amazing Educational Psychologist and all your clients of all ages are lucky to have you.
Anon (aged 39)
October 2021
Anon (aged 39)
October 2021
A huge thank you Ruth for all your expertise and thought put into Alexander's tribunal report. It contained all the information needed, the last piece of a complicated puzzle for his case to be resolved. Finally, an appropriate school setting and decent care package have been achieved for him. With many thanks to you and all the team
FH, London
July 2021
FH, London
July 2021
Ruth, you have made such a massive impact on us, I will never, ever forget talking to you for the first time. It changed absolutely everything from that moment. I really can’t thank you enough for your huge support and expertise. I feel so much more hopeful for M and we will be keeping on top of it all the way. Thanks so very much again for absolutely everything.
Ms C
June 2021.
Ms C
June 2021.
Ethan started at his new school after the Easter holidays. It is going well. He comes out of school happy and buzzing with news, and it's lovely to see. I'm told he is working well in class, making friends and is a pleasure to have in the school. His confidence is starting to improve. Thank you Maxine for helping him get where he needed to be.
Mrs S
May 2021
Mrs S
May 2021
I would like to take the opportunity to thank Ruth for her diligence & expertise. It is honestly the best report I have seen in a large raft of reports. Despite virtual challenges of lockdown you have cut through it all and really seen the Max we know and love. Your report has drawn together the chaotic strands that have been entangling us at this time.
Mrs V
January 2021
Mrs V
January 2021
We would be grateful if you could kindly extend our sincere appreciation to Maxine for all her kind support throughout the tribunal process. Her evidence was very helpful in clarifying Chiwe's profile and needs and we appreciate her taking the time to attend the hearings.
Mr & Mrs O
December 2020
Mr & Mrs O
December 2020
On a scale of 1 - 10, Amber gave the assessment an 8, which is pretty high, and she said Maxine was very nice and made it fun,
Mrs A
December 2020
Mrs A
December 2020
After all these years, and with many ups & downs, I’m delighted to say that Max is off to university in September to study Sport and Exercise Science. I will be forever grateful to you because without your support I doubt very much if Max would be where he is today.
Mrs S
July 2020
Mrs S
July 2020
An amazingly comprehensive report given the restrictions!! Very impressive
Fiona Slomovic
The Advocacy & Mediation Consultants Ltd
http://www.advocacyandmediation.co.uk/
Fiona Slomovic
The Advocacy & Mediation Consultants Ltd
http://www.advocacyandmediation.co.uk/
We were very impressed in the manner that Debra dealt with our daughter. We felt that she got the very best from her under such difficult conditions with the lockdown and K’s inability to access her schoolwork, and were a good and accurate reflection of our daughter. Not only that, she left our daughter with a real sense of accomplishment at such a difficult time, and lifted her feelings of self-worth.
May 2020
May 2020
We believe Maxine has captured J very accurately and has also clearly reflected the issues and concerns that we hold. It is welcome however to have the evidence of her testing which demonstrates some of J's skills and capabilities that so often go unnoticed or unrecognized. Her report will be immensely useful in future discussions and also in any further actions that we may consider necessary. Her observations and comments surrounding the repeated 'informal exclusions' are particularly insightful to us. We must acknowledge that in the past, whilst they have been a cause of frustration and distress to us, we had also failed to truly recognize these actions for what they truly were!
Mr & Mrs L
April 2019
Mr & Mrs L
April 2019
Please pass on our thanks to Julia for making M feel so comfortable so quickly - he found the assessment a lot less "awful" than he thought it was going to be!
Mrs B
March 2019
Mrs B
March 2019
I just wanted to let you and Julia know we won the case this week with the Local Authority for A to attend More House with his brother. Please could you send my deepest thanks to Julia, her report smashed it, and thank you too you to for being so patient, I was dealing with an incredibly difficult school!
Anon
March 2019
Anon
March 2019
Dear Ruth
I just wanted to write and let you know that based on the report you produced for us this Spring, I have been given an EHC plan for my son! Following your assessment, I began to understand his issues better and was much better at supporting him at home. In addition, your report also empowered me in the discussions that followed with school.
I know that your report was the main supporting evidence used in the EHC plan assessment process. You were extremely thorough and comprehensive in your report and it was hugely helpful. In fact, the LA SEN Officer basically inserted your entire list of recommendations into her 'Provisions section’ verbatim! As I say, the process has concluded successfully. We have achieved both a really clear and targeted Plan which addresses current need and makes steps towards developing the provisions for the next step in Year 5/6. Plus, it seems we also have some ongoing involvement of the Local Authority Specialist Service for SpLD to support school. While the journey to this point was not always agreeable or easy it was made possible in large part by the assessment work you did with me and my son. I’m delighted that the process has also enabled much improved communication and understanding between school and myself.Thank you again, so very much.
K
December 2018
I just wanted to write and let you know that based on the report you produced for us this Spring, I have been given an EHC plan for my son! Following your assessment, I began to understand his issues better and was much better at supporting him at home. In addition, your report also empowered me in the discussions that followed with school.
I know that your report was the main supporting evidence used in the EHC plan assessment process. You were extremely thorough and comprehensive in your report and it was hugely helpful. In fact, the LA SEN Officer basically inserted your entire list of recommendations into her 'Provisions section’ verbatim! As I say, the process has concluded successfully. We have achieved both a really clear and targeted Plan which addresses current need and makes steps towards developing the provisions for the next step in Year 5/6. Plus, it seems we also have some ongoing involvement of the Local Authority Specialist Service for SpLD to support school. While the journey to this point was not always agreeable or easy it was made possible in large part by the assessment work you did with me and my son. I’m delighted that the process has also enabled much improved communication and understanding between school and myself.Thank you again, so very much.
K
December 2018
The assessment went very well, thank you, and I would be more than happy to recommend you to friends - in fact, I already have done so! Debra was very welcoming to all of us and made J feel very comfortable. I also felt she was perceptive and gave clear and helpful feedback on the day, to both J and to my husband and I.
AS
November 2018
AS
November 2018
Ruth’s reports on V have been invaluable to us - of all the assessments that V has ever had done, they remain unparalleled in the guidance and information captured.
September 2018
September 2018
I'd like to pass on my thanks to Ruth for the excellent assessment and report that was done for C. The report has received a lot of praise from several professionals I've engaged with over the last few months and has resulted in the LA agreeing to issue C with an EHC Plan.
KH
(September 2018)
KH
(September 2018)
Thank you so much for your efficient help in this case and for fitting us in for the assessment. I am so very pleased we have had a positive outcome for C, it will change her life.
LG
June 2018
LG
June 2018
I wanted to say a big thank you for the highly professional and helpful reports you have been providing on all the young people I have referred recently and over the years to your service. I have found them invaluable in my work to support all aspects of the young persons development. The reports are detailed, in depth but also provide encouragement to the young people and their families who are struggling so much with school.
Tessa Dalley
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
May 2018
Tessa Dalley
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
May 2018
'Thank you to Theresa & Ruth. You have been amazing in both journeys of A and his sister B with their applications for EHCP. Both reports contained invaluable comprehensive details of our children’s needs and how they should be met in an educational setting. They enabled us to obtain a more thorough evidence based EHC plan which will increase the chances of our children accessing the curriculum and being happier at the right school for them. We will recommend you if anyone ever asks us.'
CR (Mother)
November 2017
CR (Mother)
November 2017
“Thank you so much for this, what Maxine has uncovered entirely matches what he was himself feeling so this has been such a worthwhile venture.”
SW (Mother)
November 2107
Our daughter had an assessment report completed by Hannah Abrahams in February this year [2017]. We have one follow up query from the teacher and would like ask Hannah a question if this is possible. …….
[response sent]
.........Thank you so much for being willing to help again. I am happy to say that my daughter’s issues have been resolved. It is nice to know that you all are there.
Mrs OM
October 2017
[response sent]
.........Thank you so much for being willing to help again. I am happy to say that my daughter’s issues have been resolved. It is nice to know that you all are there.
Mrs OM
October 2017
Thank you for meeting with us and our son T yesterday and making us feel so welcome.
We found the points you raised in our discussion with you to be very helpful and informative in preparation for the appeal.
Kind regards
VC & DC
October 2017
We found the points you raised in our discussion with you to be very helpful and informative in preparation for the appeal.
Kind regards
VC & DC
October 2017
Dear Ruth and Caroline,
It was an absolute pleasure to enjoy your support on our recent school placement journey with our son.
We thank you for all hard work and hours invested to enable us achieve the desired outcome.
Kind regards,
NH
September 2017
It was an absolute pleasure to enjoy your support on our recent school placement journey with our son.
We thank you for all hard work and hours invested to enable us achieve the desired outcome.
Kind regards,
NH
September 2017
We really appreciate your assistance in this matter. We were very impressed with your very detailed and thorough report of F.
Ms Gunn
March 2017
Ms Gunn
March 2017
"Dear Debra, I just wanted to express my gratitude for the assessment you conducted last year. The assessment was very thorough and looked at her situation from all the angles. It was so convincing A has been granted the arrangements she needed and finally got the rewards her hard work deserves."
BF (father)
February 2017
BF (father)
February 2017
"Thank you for the report and for all your help. I sent a copy of the report to Dr S, who said it was an excellent report and I agree. It was a pleasure to meet Maxine and I would like to thank you for arranging everything and being patient with the restrictions on my ability to reply during normal hours. I would certainly have no hesitation in contacting you in the future if we needed to."
Ann Bench (mother)
February 2017
Ann Bench (mother)
February 2017
"I just wanted to let you know that F now has an EHCP in place which includes all of your recommendations as per your report of July 2016. Ie. 1:1 support for 50% of the curriculum, a dyslexia teacher for 40 minutes a week and continued Speech and Language Therapy. A huge huge thank you!"
M
January 2017
M
January 2017
"A huge thank you to our superb legal team and experts and to Chris for your efforts in securing a settlement for William at yesterday’s tribunal. All in a day’s work for everyone but life changing for him and for us, he was so happy with the news and is looking forward to making a fresh start in Somerset."
Lisa and Michael Crawford
December 2016
Lisa and Michael Crawford
December 2016
"Please pass on our thanks to Debra who made a very positive impact on F. and was incredible at making sure he was at ease. In fact it is the first appointment we have come away from where F. has not had major anxiety, a huge meltdown, or bitten us, so that is high praise indeed. "
JR Mother
12th September 2015
JR Mother
12th September 2015
"We are so delighted to have achieved everything Harry needs for his future education, after years of battling against those that would not listen or believe in our son. Ruth listened with kindess, understanding and most of all she believed in our boy and his potential. Caroline listened with patience in times of stress and organised every assessment and detail with perfection. Ruth is superb - her brilliant assessments and reports have identified all of Harry's educational needs, have been pivotal in our appeal and for us as his parents, we truly know what his difficulties are now and how to help him overcome them. We are a family that has always believed and hoped, but until now, had never had anyone else believe in what we said. To have someone fight your corner as passionately as Ruth has done, has made the battle possible. "Thank you" is simply not enough Ruth! Forever grateful, we will be in touch again some day in the future."
Sarah & Paul Vincent
July 2015
Sarah & Paul Vincent
July 2015
"Many thanks for the Assessment Report on T. We both marvel at your ability to review so many various documents and succinctly pull out the essence of the various issues with T and write such an excellent report."
Mr & Mrs Salsbury
December 2014
(A post-19 assessment using the EHC plan)
Mr & Mrs Salsbury
December 2014
(A post-19 assessment using the EHC plan)
"I am writing to inform you of the outcome of the appeal for D following an assessment by Maxine Godley. After many weeks of waiting we were finally informed yesterday that the appeal has been successful and Dwill be reinstated on the 3rd year of the medical course as from September 2015. He will be monitored regularly and assessed throughout the year especially before the end of year exams. If you could pass this information onto Maxine it would be appreciated and once again thank you for arranging the appointment at such short notice and for Maxine getting the report done in time for the appeal.
Regards Valerie Rix"
Nov 2014
Regards Valerie Rix"
Nov 2014
"Dear Caroline,
Thank you for your email. We are very pleased with the result and acknowledge how much we owe Ruth for her very thorough report. Please convey our very sincere thanks: Ruth has made a real contribution to S's interests, happiness and quality of life."
Sept 2014
Thank you for your email. We are very pleased with the result and acknowledge how much we owe Ruth for her very thorough report. Please convey our very sincere thanks: Ruth has made a real contribution to S's interests, happiness and quality of life."
Sept 2014
"Thank you for sending the Assessment for C. I am writing now to ask you to pass on our thanks to Debra (Debra Raye) for her time and expertise. She was encouraging with C on the day and my husband and I feel her report accurately sums up our son. Her recommendations are also excellent and we are looking forward to finding him the support he needs. We are very glad we had this Assessment. Thanks for the efficient admin too!"
March 2014
March 2014
"May I take the opportunity to thank Debra (Debra Raye) for the way she helped T through the whole experience, T said she was COOL!! Praise indeed."
March 2014
March 2014
"Dear Ruth,
A big thank you for all your help and support over the last year. In my opinion your reports were key and your of analysis of J was spot on. I really appreciate your professional help and turning reports around so quickly when needed prior to both hearing dates! J is excited but also requiring a lot of reassurance that he will continue to see all the people that are important to him. He will start after half term and I hope that he will settle well into this new journey in his life. He certainly has taken me out of my comfort zone right since he was born! But takes things in his stride when least expected...."
Sarah Markson - May 2013
A big thank you for all your help and support over the last year. In my opinion your reports were key and your of analysis of J was spot on. I really appreciate your professional help and turning reports around so quickly when needed prior to both hearing dates! J is excited but also requiring a lot of reassurance that he will continue to see all the people that are important to him. He will start after half term and I hope that he will settle well into this new journey in his life. He certainly has taken me out of my comfort zone right since he was born! But takes things in his stride when least expected...."
Sarah Markson - May 2013
"Dear John (John Hutchings who carried out the assessment of D)
What a difference a year makes. On 3rd May 2012, LA rejected my parental statutory request. Today, 2nd May 2013, LA accepted an offer of place for D at More House School and they are naming it in part 4 of his statement. He is to start in September 2013 (this date I am working on getting moved forward). From the bottom of my heart, a big
thank you to you, John, and Ruth Birnbaum & Caroline!"
Mercedes Hellal - May 2013
What a difference a year makes. On 3rd May 2012, LA rejected my parental statutory request. Today, 2nd May 2013, LA accepted an offer of place for D at More House School and they are naming it in part 4 of his statement. He is to start in September 2013 (this date I am working on getting moved forward). From the bottom of my heart, a big
thank you to you, John, and Ruth Birnbaum & Caroline!"
Mercedes Hellal - May 2013
"Ruth is an excellent Educational Psychologist (and someone who I have worked with in these sorts of cases over a number of years) who is vastly experienced in dealing with children who have Asperger Syndrome and in attending Tribunal Hearings to give oral evidence."
Robert Love - Consultant (Solicitor)
for and on behalf of Tayntons LLP - February, 2013
Robert Love - Consultant (Solicitor)
for and on behalf of Tayntons LLP - February, 2013
"The discovery or confirmation that your child has special needs is a frightening and bewildering time - what will happen, what of his education, will he fulfill his potential? This was how my late husband and I felt on receiving confirmation about our beloved eldest son's difficulties.
In our battle to secure the very best education for him Ruth has been our constant companion for well over a decade. Her professionalism, commitment and care are of the very highest standard. It is to Ruth we have turned over and over again in order to secure the correct educational placement for H - from the very early days at his Infant Speech and Language Unit to his amazing specialist residential secondary school and now to an equally outstanding
specialist residential college. Ruth's piercing analysis of the challenges that our son faced and faces, and the exacting requirements for his educational needs are second to none.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Ruth to any parent."
Melanie Dawson-Dew - August 2012
“Questions to ask when considering a school for a dyslexic child”, printed in the Register of Schools by CReSTeD - Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic pupils:
“I have at least one parent a week telling me how useful the list of question is, I know of SENCo's who keep it with them when meeting parents for the first time to use as a crib sheet to ensure they answer the right questions even if the parent doesn't ask them. It is a terrific resource. On their behalf, thank you.”
Mrs Lesley Farrar Administrator, CReSTeD www.crested.co.uk - September 2012
“I have at least one parent a week telling me how useful the list of question is, I know of SENCo's who keep it with them when meeting parents for the first time to use as a crib sheet to ensure they answer the right questions even if the parent doesn't ask them. It is a terrific resource. On their behalf, thank you.”
Mrs Lesley Farrar Administrator, CReSTeD www.crested.co.uk - September 2012
"The best thing that happened to O and for us was to win his school place at Tribunal. We have embarked on many journeys and there will always be individuals who stand out during those journeys. You are one of those individuals, Ruth, and without your calm, professional, experienced assessment and support, I think life could have turned out very differently for all of us."
Susan and Malcolm McCann - August 2012
Susan and Malcolm McCann - August 2012
"I think that the report is excellent, comprehensive and focused correctly on addressing its purpose; to identify N's areas of difficulty in accessing the curriculum and the need for a Statutory Assessment that will lead to a Statement of Special Educational Needs. With such support it is hoped that N can receive targeted support that will enable him to progress and learn alongside his peers. I have no comments to make on the content of the report as it more than covers all the areas that it needs to cover.
N's needs are quite complex and subtle in various areas; I understand that as parents such reports may not always be easy to read and it may be frustrating that they have not been addressed in a focused and systematic way previously; unfortunately this quite often happens when children present with a combination of difficulties. However with joined up and focused support it is hoped that the outcome may be different. "
Fiona Slomovic
The Advocacy and Mediation Partnership Ltd - July 2012
N's needs are quite complex and subtle in various areas; I understand that as parents such reports may not always be easy to read and it may be frustrating that they have not been addressed in a focused and systematic way previously; unfortunately this quite often happens when children present with a combination of difficulties. However with joined up and focused support it is hoped that the outcome may be different. "
Fiona Slomovic
The Advocacy and Mediation Partnership Ltd - July 2012
"We really couldn't have achieved the settlement without your help and support. We also wanted to say that your assessment of M was the best analysis of her and her needs that we have ever read and it will help us to give her development purpose and direction in the future. It was a great pleasure to meet you and thank you for your perceptive and sympathetic approach to what we were trying to achieve for M's future education."
Trea and Colin Leventhal - June 2012
"Can I also say a massive thank you to Maxine, what an utterly warm, charming and professional lady you are. We felt in good hands and B engaged and responded to you so well I could not have asked for more."
Paula Campbell - October 2012
Consent has been gained to use these testimonials, with real names to reflect BPS Professional Advice but retaining confidentiality of the child's name.
Trea and Colin Leventhal - June 2012
"Can I also say a massive thank you to Maxine, what an utterly warm, charming and professional lady you are. We felt in good hands and B engaged and responded to you so well I could not have asked for more."
Paula Campbell - October 2012
Consent has been gained to use these testimonials, with real names to reflect BPS Professional Advice but retaining confidentiality of the child's name.
