Assessment

We provide assessments for children and young people either at home or in their educational setting which involves complete investigation and written report and gets us off to the best start with supporting children to achieve their best with communication.

Speech and Language Assessments

Our team of therapists can provide comprehensive assessment of your child’s speech, language and communication strengths and needs. This is the first step in beginning intervention and allows us to determine the best therapy approaches to meet your child’s individual needs. This can be used as a stand-alone service providing vital advice, support and recommendations which may be followed up by all adults working with your child. We can be commissioned by parents/carers and educational settings to provide comprehensive assessments, and the assessment can take place at a child’s educational setting or home.

Occupational Therapy Assessments

For children with motor and sensory needs, an occupational therapy assessment can help support a child to be able to engage in activities of daily life. The OT assessment will also involve assessing your child’s unique sensory profile. This allows the therapist to advise and recommend strategies for holistic support so the child can get the sensory input that they need to participate in daily activities and engage with others.

Joint Assessments

We also provide joint assessments with the SLT and OT which can be highly beneficial for those who have a range of needs. Working collaboratively maximises the benefits of the therapeutic intervention across disciplines which means the therapy process can be streamlined. Read our blog post to find out more about our journey to occupational therapy.

EHCP Assessments

We provide bespoke, in-depth assessments to support applications for Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs). These take place in the child’s educational setting and involve a range of appropriate assessment and observation measures tailored to your child’s individual needs. The therapist will interpret the assessment results within a detailed report that indicates strengths, needs and recommended provision. Our practice is highly respected by our NHS colleagues, and we have a positive track record of our recommended provision being upheld by NHS colleagues which have been included in the final EHCP. Where sadly, EHCP provision is not agreed, we are able to assist with expert witness reports in preparation for tribunals. For more information, see our Tribunal Assessment Services.

We are often asked if our EHCP reports are accepted by local authorities. Read on to learn more.

Reports by therapists outside of the NHS must be recognised by Local Authorities when the additional support needed by a child is required for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). According to the SEN and Disability Code of Practice (2015) there is no basis in law for any Local Authority to reject a professional assessment or diagnostic report simply because it was part of a privately commissioned assessment.

The SEN and Disability Code of Practice (SEND) is statutory guidance issued by the government – it contains detail on what Local Authorities should consider.

Paragraph 9.14 of the Code states that “the local authority should consider whether there is evidence that despite the early year’s provider, school or post-16 institution having taken relevant and purposeful action to identify, assess and meet the special educational needs of the child or young person, the child or young person has not made expected progress”.

The advice given within the Code covers the relevant education, health, and care needs of the child or young person, as well as the views, wishes, and feelings of the parent.

The Local Authority (LA) is expected to pay particular attention to:

Evidence of the child or young person’s academic attainment (or developmental milestones in younger children) and rate of progress;
Information about the nature, extent, and context of the child or young person’s SEN;
Evidence of the action already taken by the school or other settings;
Evidence that where progress has been made, it has only been as the result of much additional intervention and support over and above that which is usually provided;
Evidence of the child or young person’s physical, emotional and social development and health needs, drawing on relevant evidence from clinicians and other health professionals and what has been done to meet these needs by other agencies.

Refusal by a Local Authority to accept private assessments that follow NICE guidelines would suggest an omission in following clear and explicit requirements re SEND. An assessment towards or as part of diagnosis made under these terms should be regarded as credible evidence for a Tribunal – refusal to issue an EHC Plan, would be an appealable decision. This means if you appeal a Local Authority’s decision, a Tribunal would be under a lawful duty to consider all the documents placed before them, private or otherwise.

In relation to the NHS, a privately obtained report is as crucial as an NHS one. If you are advised that a private diagnosis report will be ignored, this is incorrect advice. NHS England state, “You’re still entitled to free NHS care if you choose to pay for additional private care.” For the avoidance of doubt, an assessment report written by a registered, specially trained, and experienced professional is as reliable, lawfully credible, and clinically crucial as an NHS report.

However, we are aware that there have been instances of private reports not being accepted which is sadly why we are taking a stand. Our professional organisations are supporting this cause and the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP) and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) have been working to stop this unlawful practice by issuing the following statement. ASLTIP Document