What is an Educational Psychology assessment?
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When children struggle with their learning, emotions, interaction, or sensory/ motor skills, an educational psychology assessment can really help in determining their needs and working out the best ways in which to support them at school.
We offer comprehensive Educational Psychology assessments. These include identification of need is across all areas covered in EHCPs: Cognition and Learning; Interaction and Communication; Social, Emotional, Mental Health and Wellbeing; and, Sensory and Physical. Psychometric assessment as well as standardised cognitive assessment are utilised, as appropriate and necessary.
EP assessments help to gain a clearer understanding of your child’s general psychological and developmental functioning.
By gaining an insight into how or why your child may respond to different contexts or demands, we can offer outcomes and recommended provision to support both children and schools.
How this can help
Educational psychology can help you to:
- Understand your child’s cognitive, learning, emotional and communication strengths
- Support educational and community settings with practical support and understanding
- Identify learning strengths, needs and difficulties
- Suggest further support and assessment, as appropriate
- Help your child to understand their own strengths and learning style whilst also improving self-esteem, motivation and attainment
What does it cover?
Assessment areas include:
- Standardised cognitive assessment
- Working memory assessment
- Executive function
- Processing
- Communication and interaction
- Developmental co-ordination
- Sensory regulation
- Attention and focus
- Mental health and Emotional well-being
- Approaches to play and learning/ classroom performance
We also offer diagnostic services for specific learning difficulties (SpLd) such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. These are an additional assessment and are priced as an additional cost to the EP assessment. Please get in touch with us to enquire about these additional services.
What happens during the assessment?
The in clinic appointment for your child lasts 50 minutes. These appointments are always child-led and relaxed in order to ensure that children feel settled in whatever way they need to complete activities and tasks.
Please see our FAQ for more detailed information of our assessment procedure.
What happens after the assessment?
You will receive a detailed report and suggested support plan to help integrate the findings and ideas into yours and your child’s life as well as additional support information and guidance on next steps. We offer 50 minute feedback calls which are an additional charge and are booked separately (£120).
Educational Psychology Assessment FAQ
What is this assessment for?
Comprehensive educational psychology assessments can used for the purposes of Education, Health and Care Plans (ECHPs). These can help support your child in school to make sure they get the right help and guidance.
They also help to gain a clearer understanding of your child’s general psychological and developmental functioning.
Assessment areas can include:
- Cognition, information processing and attainment
- Social, emotional, and mental health needs
- Communication and interaction
- Sensory regulation
- Attention and focus
- Executive function and working memory skills
- Auditory processing
- Fine and gross motor skills
We also offer diagnostic services for specific learning difficulties (SpLd) such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. These are an additional assessment and are priced as an additional cost to the EP assessment. Please get in touch with us to enquire about these additional services.
Who carries out the assessment?
Our Educational Psychology Assessment team is led by Dr. Tamasine Black (Lead Psychologist – Educational and Child).
What happens during the assessment?
EP appointments are always child-led and relaxed in order to ensure that children feel settled in whatever way they need to complete activities and tasks.
Using a range of interesting games and activities, as well as semi-structured opportunities to consider other aspects of development such as attention, regulation, focus and social communication, the type of activities can include (but are not limited to):
- Standardised assessments of attainment and cognition
- Dynamic assessment
- Play based activities including drawing, story reading, ball games, painting and board games
What happens after the assessment?
We will send you our report as soon as we can after the assessment. This can be between 2 and 4 weeks.
Reports are around 30 pages long and include a full analysis of all aspects of your child’s development that have been considered, with an integrated consideration of how their strengths can support success and how any needs are likely to be driving difficulties in wellbeing or attainment. SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound) outcomes are provided for progression, with comprehensive, specific and measurable guidance recommended to support these.
Does the assessment follow HCPC and BPS guidelines?
Our assessments are conducted within both HCPC standards of conduct, performance and ethics as well as the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct.
What if I am interested in several of your services?
If you are interested in combining this assessment with any of our assessments, please let us know.
What we cannot help with
As we are not a crisis service, we are unfortunately unable to offer assessment of mental illnesses including bipolar disorder, psychosis, an established eating disorder or in cases where there is extensive self-harm or suicidal ideation.
Who should I speak to in case of an emergency?
We are not a mental health crisis service so if you have immediate concerns about your child or young person’s wellbeing, please contact the emergency services or your local NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service crisis telephone line.
Other useful organisations include:
Childline: 0800 1111
Samaritans: 116 123 or text “Shout” to 85258.
What if I want to apply for an Education, Health and Care Plan?
Our reports can support the EHCP process. Please see here for more information on your legal rights to apply.