Topic: Case Study Evaluation for Katy
Description:
Please complete a case study evaluation on the topic as outlined below. You should use additional information provided as a starting point.
Please read the following case description:
You are an Educational Psychologist. You have received a letter from a SENCO in the local area, asking for your help in evaluating a 6 year old girl, Katy. Katy goes to her local state primary school. Recently, she returned home from school very upset. Her mother asked her what was wrong and she said that she is “rubbish at letters and reading” and that she “forgets things” the teacher tells her. She is being teased by the other children and she thinks the teacher is angry with her when she forgets what to do. Katy’s mother went in to talk to the SENCO, who then held a meeting with Katy’s parents and teacher. Katy’s teacher reported noticing that she has been quieter recently and that she is usually a very “sociable and bubbly little girl”. Upon reflection and after a review of Katy’s recent work her teacher did conclude that Katy’s writing is untidy and that she does misspell some words that a six-year-old would normally be expected to spell correctly. Katy’s mother is concerned that her daughter is becoming disillusioned with school, is sometimes withdrawn and is losing her confidence. Katy 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.
Katy’s mother reports that her husband was diagnosed as dyslexic at university and she is concerned that Katy may have the same problem. She feels that the normal school process of screening and 6-monthly monitoring will cost valuable time, and wants an urgent review.
The SENCO is therefore writing to you to ask for your help to assess Katy and recommend interventions if appropriate.
As an educational psychologist you are being asked to assess Katy’s abilities and needs.
You need to write a case study report about this case, making sure that you include the following in your assignment:
• Title
• Introduction/Context
• Background
• Brief Description of the Presenting Problem
• Working hypothesis
• Rationale for this hypothesis (models, explanatory mechanisms etc)
• Indication of next steps
• What do you expect to find?
• Likely Interventions required (and the impact on Katy, her teacher and her peers)
• References
This should be written in the form of a case study report. Please note that you gain marks for proper evaluation of the methods, theory and interpretation, not for making an accurate diagnosis. However, your response should refer closely back to the case in hand. Ensure that you use a range of appropriate research materials to support your account.
Word Length or Timing (presentations): 2500 words
Marking guidelines used1: General (1) and Case Study (2.1d)