Information about the assessment process
Making an Enquiry
You can request an assessment by clicking the Enquiries tab in the menu. Once all the referral documents are received, then an assessment date is arranged.
Before the Assessment
For some children, an observation at their education setting is required, which usually takes place before the assessment. A video will be sent to you, and your child’s education setting, explaining more about the assessment process. You will also receive an information sheet that you can share with your child to help them know what will happen on the day.
About the Assessment
Most assessments take place at my home, but some children require assessments to take place at their home or school. I will confirm the location after reading referral forms. On the day of the appointment, your child will be greeted in a calm and friendly manner, and the reason for the assessment will be explained before they begin. I will work at your child’s pace, so they will have breaks as needed. All tasks will be clearly explained and demonstrated.
Your Child’s Report
You will receive an electronic report detailing your child’s strengths and areas for development, including test explanations and scores. Recommendations are given for teaching strategies and provisions for supporting your child to make progress. This may include referrals to other professionals for further assessment.
Review
Some children benefit from a review consultation after their assessment. For example, if further targeted teaching or referrals to other professionals are required before I can make a diagnosis. Or if additional information is needed as part of an EHC assessment request. Reviews can be requested any time within 6 months after the assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What's included in the assessment and report?
- Your child’s strengths and needs in the following areas*:
- Intelligence
- Processing and memory
- Literacy and maths
- Attention and other executive function skills
- Social skills, language and communication
- Motor skills and sensory processing
- Emotions and behaviours
- Everyday life skills
- Expressive arts
- *It is not always possible to cover all areas of development, eg if a child is very young or becomes dysregulated, but I will always try to explore as much as possible.
- Recommendations are made for supporting your child at school, eg teaching strategies, useful resources, exam access arrangements and additional targeted teaching.
- Where relevant: Advice for school transitions, supporting mental health and medical needs (eg Tourettes, epilepsy and diabetes) or how to help if your child has been bereaved or experienced bullying.
- If there is evidence of dyslexia, dyscalculia, general learning difficulties or high learning potential, these will be diagnosed.
- If there are indicators of autism, ADHD, dyspraxia (DCD) or any other differences, advice will be given for support at school and which other professionals to refer your child to for diagnostic assessments.
- Advice and recommendations for an EHCP, eg individual support, environmental adjustments and staff training. Information is specific and quantifiable.
When will the report be ready?
The report takes up to 4 weeks.
Will a diagnosis be made?
If there is evidence that your child has a learning difficulty of giftedness then this will be clearly explained and diagnosed. Sometimes recommendations are made for referrals to other professionals for additional assessments and to receive a specific program of support to help your child if needed.
Will my child's school/nursery accept the report?
Schools/nurseries cannot refuse to accept reports by qualified professionals. I am a fully qualified Chartered Educational Psychologist (EP) and registered with relevant bodies, including the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). Schools/nurseries have a duty of care to try to implement recommendations from professionals, as is reasonable from within their available resources. If your child’s school/nursery has any questions they are welcome to contact me.
Will the report guarantee my child gets an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP)?
If a child has severe and complex needs, then parents/carers may wish to request an EHC needs assessment from their Local Authority. You can use an educational psychology report as part of this process, but it does not guarantee that the Local Authority will agree to carry out an EHC assessment. The report will clearly explain your child’s strengths and any barriers affecting their learning. This information can be used by you and your child’s school/nursery to plan ways for meeting your child’s needs and helping them make progress. Please note I do not offer Tribunal services.
How long does the assessment take?
We start at 9am and your child will have breaks as and when they need. Most assessments finish at lunch time, though some children take longer or need more breaks. I also give verbal feedback at the end, so please allow until 2pm. Children are usually tired after the assessment, so most parents/carers withdraw them from school for the day, so that they can rest afterwards.
How and when do I pay?
Fees are listed on the referral form. An invoice will be sent to you on the first day of the month in which your child will be assessed. Payment is made by bank transfer. If a school or other organisation is paying, then the fees must be paid prior to the assessment.
What do I do after I receive the report?
I recommend sharing the report with your child’s school/nursery and arranging a meeting to plan next steps. There will be suggestions for strategies, interventions and resources to help your child with areas of difficulty. You can discuss all of these with your child’s education setting. It may help to write down some questions and send them to the school/nursery in advance of the meeting. If there are any questions about the report, please contact me.
What should I say to my child about the appointment
Once an assessment date has been set you will receive an information sheet to share with your child. You could say to your child that we will be doing some activities that help me understand their strengths and how they learn. My job is to give teachers ideas for how they can help your child with things they might find difficult at school, such as concentrating, learning, feeling happy and talking with other children.
Request an Assessment
Ready to request an assessment of your child?
Please check you meet the criteria below and click ‘Next Step’ to proceed.
If you have any questions about the assessment process, check out the Assessment FAQ page for more information.