Assessment and advice – children

I can help if you have any concerns about your child’s learning – perhaps one of these:

• You have concerns about your baby/toddler's development or behaviour
• You want some tips dealing with sleep/eating problems, tantrums, early learning
• They are bright but can’t read
• They or you can’t read their writing
• They seem to forget what they have learned
• They don’t seem to take in any information
• You feel they might be gifted
• You feel they are just different to other children and you are not sure
• The teacher feels they are progressing but you are not sure
• They don’t seem to sit still or focus on what they are doing
• You want advice about pre-school/schooling or secondary transfer
• You are trying to pursue a Statutory Assessment to get a Statement of Special Educational Need
• You have a Special Needs Tribunal coming up

FAQ

What will happen when you contact me?

• I will take you through the process of your referral so you can decide whether you might wish to proceed with me
• We will discuss the fee
• I will email or send some questionnaires. This will enable me to collect developmental and specific information about your child. This helps you focus on your child and clarify your thoughts and helps me take a 360 degree view of them and decide what tools to select for the assessment
• I will ask you whether you would like the school to be involved
• If you have any previous reports or assessments I would like to see them
• If I feel I need to observe your child in school we will arrange that
• If I feel I can assess your child outside of school then it will take place in one of the locations where I carry that out
• Sometimes parents would like to be present during the assessment
• I will always discuss this with you
• The assessment can take up to three hours. If your child is young we can always do it in two parts
• Following the assessment I prepare a bespoke report on your child to share with you and any other professional you may wish to include

Assessment and advice – adults

FAQ

How can I get a referral to you?

Referrals are taken from or via employers, solicitors/law centres, doctors or directly from yourself

What assessments do you offer?

I offer a range of assessments to identify learning, emotional or behavioural needs in Adults for Dyslexia, Dyspraxia etc. This can be for:

• Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
• Professional Examinations and Reasonable Adjustments
• Disability/Employment/Immigration issues/tribunals where learning disabilities may be involved
• Review assessments of adults who have already been identified as having a learning disability such as Autism, Down’s Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy

Other Services for Adults

• I offer Interventions to promote better learning and performance through the development of your learning styles, decreasing anxiety and promoting well-being
• I can work with you (and perhaps your employer/educational institution) to develop a Learning Portfolio. You can use this and add to it throughout your education or career. It can help you identify what helps you, what does not help you, and your next steps and longer term aims

What will happen when you contact me

• I will take you through the process of your referral so you can decide whether you might wish to proceed with me
• We will discuss the fee
• I will email or send some questionnaires to collect developmental and specific information from you. This helps you focus on yourself and clarify your thoughts and helps me take a 360 degree view you and decide what tools to select for the assessment. Sometimes it helps to ask a parent, partner or friend for their help and their views
• I will ask you whether you would like any other professional or your place of work to be involved
• If you have any previous reports or assessments I would like to see them
• The assessment can take up to four hours. So I always suggest that you bring a snack. I can provide tea and coffee
• At the assessment I will discuss your l developmental and educational history with an exploration of emotional well-being and literacy and numeric. I often do a test of visual stress and an online hearing check
• Following the assessment I prepare you a bespoke report. This could be for you and any other professional you may wish to include
• The final report is only prepared for those who initially asked for it. If you need it for other purposes you will need to check that with me at the time.

Assessment and advice – expert witness and court work

I work as an Expert Witness in the areas of educational assessments and special needs, disability, employment and ethnicity. This usually follows a specific request which is detailed in a Letter of Instruction.

FAQ

How can I get a referral to you?

Please see contact section

What assessment do you offer?

I offer a range of assessments as an Expert Witness in the areas of learning, special needs, disability, employment and immigration. This usually follows a specific request which is detailed in a Letter of Instruction.

• I take Private and Legal Service Commission Referrals
• I will carry out diagnostic assessments of young people and adults
• I prepare reports for different tribunals SEN, Disability, Employment etc
• I prepare reports for those on criminal and civil charges where there is a question about learning abilities
• I can prepare advice for courts on the Needs of clients during their appearance in court

Why Me

• As an Educational Psychologist I have an expertise in and in depth knowledge of our education system and the Code of Practice
• My specialist knowledge of special needs and disability legislation comes from being a long term trustee of IPSEA – The Independent Panel for Special Educational Advice, which is a major special needs advocacy organisation. IPSEA provided my training in this area
• I am a member of DANDA the Developmental Adult Neurodiversity Association and I receive regular supplementary training through them
• I have attended many TUC Disability Conferences, on behalf of the Association of Educational Psychologists
• I am professionally networked with many solicitors, paralegals and voluntary advocacy organisations

Assessment and advice – schools, colleges, places of employment

FAQ

What type of assessments and Services do you offer?

I offer a range of assessments/services for your pupils, students or employees to provide you with

• Diagnostic Assessments and Recommendations for support/intervention
• Assessments prior to, or as part of Statutory Intervention or Tribunal Hearings, liaison with Head Teachers
• Disabled Student Allowance Diagnostic Assessments
• Consultations around provisions for Learning Differences and Disabilities
• Project Research, Needs Analyses, Monitored Interventions re Learning Differences and Disabilities

How can I get a referral to you?

Please see contact section