What should I do if I have concerns about my child’s learning or development?
If your child is of pre-school or school age then the first thing to do is to make an appointment to talk to their teacher about your concerns. They may then ask for the advice of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) who may carry out some initial observations or assessments of your child. Depending on the outcome of these assessments they may suggest some support strategies for your child in school and may also have some ideas about how you can help your child at home.  They may also suggest a referral to a different professional such as a paediatrician or speech and language therapist.

Children attending state schools can be referred, by the school, to the local authority educational psychology service for support and advice. That service is free and you may wish to ask your child’s school to consider using that route to address your concerns.

I will be pleased to offer you my services whether your child is attending a state or an independent school. The initial 30-minute telephone consultation is free. This enables you to tell me a bit about your concerns and ask any questions you may have about the assessment process and the costs involved. You can then decide whether you would like me to go ahead and make a psychological assessment of your child’s development.

Do I need to let the school know that my child is going to see an independent psychologist?
Children spend a lot of time in school, both in the learning environment of the classroom and in the social environment of the playground, canteen and so on. It is very difficult to get an all round picture of how your child is developing socially, emotionally and cognitively, without information from people who work with your child in school. So yes, it is important that your child’s school knows about your concerns and that you have invited a psychologist to be involved.

It is quite normal for school and parents to have a slightly different view about how a child is progressing or coping in school. Part of my role is to ensure that your child’s well being and development is supported in school and feedback to his or her teacher or SENCO is therefore included.

Where will my child be assessed?
This can take place in my consulting room and children can also be assessed in school by arrangement. Many children feel shy or nervous about meeting someone different and this is normal. You can help to prepare your child by treating the visit as a ‘normal everyday’ event. It’s best not to talk about testing as this can be off-putting for a child. Most children will respond positively to the idea of doing some activities that will help me to find out what they do well, and there will be some they may find a little harder.

When you arrive, the first few minutes will be spent allowing your child to relax and feel comfortable, while you will have an opportunity to ask any further questions. The parent waiting area is comfortable, light and airy and your child will be assessed in a room close by.
 
Will I get a report?
Yes, this is usually ready to send to you within two weeks of the assessment. The report will include information about tests that were used, results, conclusions and recommendations for supporting any needs your child has. The conclusions and recommendations will be based on my analysis of the results and will represent my objective professional opinion.  The aim of the report is to give you, the parents, and any other adults working with your child, information and advice that will enhance the understanding of your child’s strengths and needs in order to support their ongoing development.

What will a full assessment include?
A full assessment of your child's learning will include a detailed examination of their cognitive skills and their academic attainment using psychometric tests. It also includes gathering verbal and/or written information from other professionals involved with your child and the preparation of a detailed written report. A thirty minute feedback telephone consultation, prior to me sending you the report, is also part of this inclusive service.

Please contact me directly for full details of costs.

Other services, including assessment for reading difficulties, neuropsychological  assessment (for example for memory or attention problems) or tribunal representation work can be quoted for on request.