Does my child need an assessment? What parents should know
In short, an assessment can help if you and school are unsure why your child is finding things hard, but it is not always the first step. It helps to be clear about the question you want answered and what support could start in the meantime.
Parents often reach the question of an assessment after months of trying different things. It can feel like the step that will finally explain everything, and sometimes it does help a great deal. Other times, a clearer picture from school and home, and some well chosen support, is what makes the difference.
Different kinds of assessment
- Assessments within school, such as reading, spelling or maths checks carried out by teachers or the SENCo
- Specialist teacher assessments, often used to explore literacy difficulties such as dyslexia
- Assessments by educational psychologists, speech and language therapists or occupational therapists
- Medical or developmental assessments through your GP and the NHS, for example for autism or ADHD
Questions to ask first
- What do we want to understand that we do not already know?
- What has school already tried, and what happened?
- Who is the right professional for this question?
- What support can start now, while we wait?
Waiting lists for some NHS assessments can be long, so it is worth thinking about what can be put in place in the meantime. Support in school does not usually depend on a diagnosis.
Common questions
Can I ask school for an assessment?
Yes. You can ask the class teacher or SENCo what assessments they can carry out in school and whether they would suggest involving a specialist.
Will an assessment get my child more support?
It can help explain your child's needs and guide support, but it does not automatically lead to extra help. What matters is how the findings are used in school and at home.
Ruby does not diagnose or carry out clinical assessments. In a parent consultation, she helps you think through whether an assessment might help, which kind, and what support could make a difference now. If she believes a child would benefit from clinical support, she will always say so.
Talk it through with Ruby
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