FAQs

Q: Do I need to let the school know that my child is going to see an independent professional?

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 their learning environment. So yes, it is important that your child’s learning environment knows about your concerns and that you are consulting an independent professional for advice. However, it is quite normal for parents and the school to have a slightly different view about how a child is progressing or coping in their learning environment. For various reasons you may not want to inform the school that this independent assessment is taking place. We will respect your views and it is your choice whether to inform the school or not, but we hope you understand that part of our role is to ensure that your child’s well-being and development is supported in their learning environment.

Q: What will a full assessment by an Educational Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Counselling Therapist and Speech Therapist include?

A full assessment of your child will depend on the presenting concerns. If an Educational Psychologist is carrying out a learning assessment, it will include a detailed examination of their cognitive abilities, academic attainments in literacy and numeracy, and diagnostic tests where appropriate. If your child is being seen by an Occupational Therapist, relevant assessments are carried out to assess their fine and gross motor skills and sensory profile. For therapeutic support, an initial meeting with the parents and child or young person is carried out to explore presenting issues and to agree the goals for the intervention. If a Speech and Language Therapist is seeing your child, relevant tests are carried out examining a child’s expressive and receptive language skills Information is also gathered from parents and schools using pre assessment questionnaires. Other professional reports are also taken into consideration. Sometimes observations are carried out at the child’s learning environment as a starting point to the assessment depending on the presenting concerns.

Q: What should I do if I am concerned about my child progress at school?

If your child is of nursery or school age then the first thing to do is to make an appointment to talk to their key worker or class teacher and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) at their nursery or school about your concerns. Some SENCo’s 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 professional such as a Paediatrician, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, or Educational Psychologist. Depending on whether your child attends a state or independent school they may be able to access Local Authority/ Children’s Services such as Educational Psychology Service and NHS services such as Speech and Language Therapy or Occupational Therapy for support and advice. It is advisable to check with school staff whether these services are available and what the referral criteria are. These services are free but your child would need to meet the criteria for referral and you could be put on a waiting list. You can also call The Evolving Mind to discuss with us your concerns and ask any questions you may have about the services we offer and the costs involved. When you decide to go ahead and book an appointment, we will link you to a relevant professional on our team who can best address your child’s presenting concerns.

Do I need to let the school know that my child is going to see an independent professional?

Andrew2023-12-11T13:29:27+00:00

Do I need to let the school know that my child is going to see an independent professional?Andrew2023-12-11T13:29:27+00:00

What will a full assessment by an Educational Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Counselling Therapist and Speech Therapist include?

Andrew2023-12-11T13:28:43+00:00

What will a full assessment by an Educational Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Counselling Therapist and Speech Therapist include?Andrew2023-12-11T13:28:43+00:00

What should I do if I am concerned about my child progress at school?

Andrew2023-12-11T13:28:03+00:00

What should I do if I am concerned about my child progress at school?Andrew2023-12-11T13:28:03+00:00

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FAQs

Do I need to let the school know that my child is going to see an independent professional?

What will a full assessment by an Educational Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Counselling Therapist and Speech Therapist include?

What should I do if I am concerned about my child progress at school?

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