CHILDREN
How does your service work if I want my child assessed by a psychologist for
a psychological social, emotional or educational assessment?
Your child may need one or more of the following assessments and this will need discussion. After you have read through this information and checked out Parents, Children+ Schools, click on CONTACT US.
Services to parents and adults from Learning Insights are strictly confidential. Contact with schools and other sources of information are made only with the expressed wishes of parents or guardians. Any forms requiring completion are passed through the parents. Reports written on any child are only made available to parents who it is hoped will provide the school with a copy. Copies of reports are not made available to anyone else except with written permission from the parents.
In court, appeals and tribunal situations the report is again made available to the parent who’s child is being assessed, and they are requested to forward a copy to the appropriate body. If permission is given by the parents, then the report can be sent directly to whomever they wish to receive it.
FULL ASSESSMENTS
Full Assessments take up to three hours with the child. Further time is made
available to the parents for discussion. A detailed family history is obtained
and a form for schools to complete is also provided. The assessment content
and time varies depending upon the age and ability of the child and the nature
of questions parents seek answers for. A detailed written report is provided.
Where requested, we liaise with schools and other professionals related to the
child's needs, refer the child to other educational, medical or professional
specialist, and indicate where resources and other facilities can be obtained.
EDUCATIONAL SCREENING ASSESSMENTS
These assessments take approximately half the time of the full assessments and
in fact constitute the activities of the latter half of a full assessment. The
screening assessment can be used in one of two ways. If parents are in doubt
about whether their child has any difficulties, then the screening assessment
can be used as a preliminary analysis. Or alternately, if a child has been previously
assessed and requires documentation of their specific learning difficulties
(see below) to present to examination boards, then this screening identifies
their level of educational attainment, which needs to be assessed at the time
the documentation is required. A discussion with the parents is included, and
either a brief written report or documentation is provided for the parents to
submit to the school's examining board.
ABILITY SCREENING ASSESSMENT
If a description of the child’s learning potential is required the ability
screening assessment will provide an I.Q. and an indication of the child’s
intellectual profile. This assessment also takes approximately half the time
of the full assessment and constitutes the activities of the first half of that
assessment.
A discussion with the parents and child and a brief report is included.
If it is identified through screening that further assessment is required, then
the screening assessment fee is deducted from the full assessment fee.
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ASSESSMENTS
These assessments involve some structured and some unstructured activities over
a full morning, and are of value where other factors than learning difficulties
may be the source of distress for the child, behavioral problems or a general
failure to thrive or achieve. They require building strong and effective rapport
with the child and may take more than one consultation, depending upon the reason
for the referral. A written report and discussion is provided.
EXAMINATION BOARD DOCUMENTATION
A full assessment is required if a child has not previously been assessed, and
either the individual, school or parents believe the child has learning difficulties
that would warrant their having documentation of their Specific Learning Difficulties
(SpLD) to submit to their examination board. Such documentation requests the
board take account of the individuals learning difficulties, and depending upon
the nature of the difficulties, extra time can be requested for them in the
exam. If an individual has already been diagnosed as having specific learning
difficulties (dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Non-verbal Learning Difficulties
NvLD) then only the educational screening assessment is required. Such documentation
can be submitted to colleges, universities and institutions of higher education.
REPRESENTATION AT TRIBUNAL
This involves evaluation of the documentation related to the tribunal. Discussion
with the client, solicitor and any other professionals involved, and physical
representation at the tribunal if requested.
CONSULTATIONS
These are usually made available on an hourly basis to provide an opportunity
for the parents, and other professionals the parents wish to involve, to discuss
and explore issues. Additional consultations following assessments of an individual
are available and are pro rated at an hourly rate. These can be either by phone
or by appointment at our consultation rooms.
Medical insurance companies have accepted claims for fees when a medical consultant has made a referral to a psychologist, but not all do so. Please check with your insurance company.
CONTACT US at Learning Insights if you would like to know more.