Does My Child Need an Assessment?
Every child grows and learns at their own pace, which can make it hard to determine whether they’re on track or could use some extra support. That’s where an assessment comes in.
An assessment provides a clear picture of your child’s strengths and identifies areas where they may need a little help to reach their full potential. It’s the first step in creating a tailored therapy plan that works best for your child.
What Happens During an Assessment?
Getting to Know You
Before your child’s assessment, our Family Experience Officers gather key information to help us plan an experience tailored to your child. When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed warmly and asked to fill out a brief questionnaire to get started.
Getting to Know Your Child
We strive to make assessments fun and engaging because we know this is a new environment for many children. To ensure we gather the most accurate information, our clinicians allow time for your child to settle in and feel comfortable before beginning.
How Do We Assess Your Child’s Skills?
Every child is unique, so our approach depends on your child’s age, personality, and developmental level.
- Observational and Play-Based Assessments
These help us understand your child’s skills in a natural and stress-free way. - Standardised Assessments
Where appropriate, we use standardised tools to compare your child’s abilities with those of their peers.
By combining observations, clinical expertise, and developmental benchmarks, we identify your child’s strengths and areas that might benefit from extra support.
After the assessment, we may also collaborate with other professionals, such as teachers, GPs, paediatricians, or specialists like speech pathologists and occupational therapists, to get a well-rounded view of your child’s needs.
What Are the Possible Outcomes?
- No Immediate Support Needed
If your child’s skills are on track for their age, they might not need therapy. Your clinician will let you know and suggest a follow-up assessment later if needed. - Therapy Recommended
If it’s clear your child would benefit from therapy, your clinician will explain why and what the next steps involve.
What About the Report?
After the assessment, your clinician compiles their findings into a detailed report. This includes:
- A comprehensive summary of your child’s current skills.
- A list of recommended therapy goals to help your child thrive.
You’ll have the chance to review this information and work with your clinician to set personalised goals that will make the biggest difference in your child’s daily life.
What’s Next If Therapy Is Needed?
If therapy is recommended, you can organise appointments right after the assessment. Once the report is ready, your therapist will go over the results with you and outline the therapy process in more detail.
Together, you’ll create motivating goals tailored to your child’s age, development, and unique needs, ensuring therapy fits seamlessly into your family’s routine.
Supporting Your Child Every Step of the Way
Whether your child needs therapy now or simply a review later, an assessment provides clarity and direction. It’s all about helping your child build the skills they need to succeed and enjoy their world with confidence.
If you’re ready to learn more or book an assessment, we’re here to help. You can contact your local clinic to talk to one of our friendly family experience officers (Link to the clinic details tab of the website) or learn more about our assessment process here (Link to the assessment tab of the website)