You are an independent Educational Psychologist. Youhavereceived a letter from an anxious parent,supported by a note from the Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator (SENCO) ina local school, asking for your help in formally evaluatinga 7-year-old girl, Lizzy.

Lizzy goes to her local state primary school.Recently,she returned home from schoolvery upset. Her mother askedher what was wrong and she saidthat she is "rubbish at letters and reading" andthat she "forgets things" theteacher tells her. She is being teased by theother childrenand she thinks the teacher isangry with her when she forgets what to do.

Lizz's mother went in totalk to the SENCO, whothenheld a meeting with Lizzy's parents and teacher. Lizzy's teacher reported noticing that she has been quieter recently and that sheis usually a very"sociable and bubbly little girl". Uponreflectionand after a review of Lizzy's

recent work her teacher did conclude that Lizzy's writing is untidy and that she does misspell some words that a seven-year-old would normally be expected to spell correctly.

Lizzy's mother is concerned that her daughter is becoming disillusioned with school, is sometimes withdrawn and is losing her confidence.Lizzy is usually a very "bright girl" who

loves stories, storytelling and learning, but she now avoids books at all cost - even when others offer to read to her at bedtime.

Lizzys motherreports thather husband, Lizzy's father, was diagnosed as dyslexic at university and she is concerned thatLizzymay have the sameproblem.She feels that the normal school processofscreening and 6-monthlymonitoringwillwastetoomuch valuable time, andwants Lizzy'scaseto be made thesubject of an urgent review with anexternalprofessional. The SENCO agreesthat screeningwould introduceunwelcome delay, andsupports Lizzy'smother in writing to you to ask foryour help. You are beingasked to formally assess Lizzy and to recommend appropriate interventions.

As an independent educational psychologistyou are being asked to make a formal assessment of Lizzy's abilities and needs. Please provide some helpful hints

• Title
• Introduction/context
• Background
• Brief description of the presenting problem
• Working hypothesis
• Rationale for this hypothesis
• Outline of proposed formal assessment process
• Expected results
• Detailed intervention plan in line with expectations
• Next steps