Understand How Your Child Thinks & Learns
A detailed cognitive and learning assessment for children and young people aged 7+, designed to build a clearer understanding of how they process information, learn and approach different demands.
Where the evidence supports it, the assessment can identify specific learning differences such as dyslexia, while exploring areas associated with dyscalculia, dyspraxia or dysgraphia where relevant.
Children & young people aged 7+
Where parents, school or the young person want a clearer understanding of how they think and learn.
Cognitive & learning profile
Including patterns of strengths, areas that may take more effort and specific learning differences where relevant.
Detailed report + practical recommendations
Alongside a child-friendly explanation to help the young person understand their own profile.
When Learning Feels Harder Than It Should
A child does not need to already know whether dyslexia or another specific learning difference is relevant. The assessment looks at the wider pattern to understand what may be helping or getting in the way.
Reading, writing & numbers
Literacy or numeracy may take more effort than expected, even where the child understands the underlying ideas.
Memory & processing
They may find it harder to hold onto instructions, process information quickly or manage several steps at once.
Progress does not match potential
Parents or school may feel that attainment does not fully reflect the young person’s understanding, ideas or abilities.
Finding the right support
You may want clearer information about how the child learns best and what approaches could help at home or in education.
Building a Picture of How They Think & Learn
The assessment looks across different aspects of cognitive processing and learning so that individual scores can be understood as part of a wider pattern.
How they process information
- reasoning
- working memory
- processing speed
- patterns of cognitive strengths
How learning skills have developed
- reading and literacy
- phonological processing
- numeracy where relevant
- functional impact on learning
Not every measure is needed for every child. The assessment is shaped around the questions being explored and the pattern that develops during the session.
Helping the Young Person Feel Comfortable
Assessment should help a child understand themselves, not leave them feeling as though they have simply been tested.
Responsive to the child
Breaks, pacing and the structure of the session can be adjusted according to the young person’s needs.
Clear, age-appropriate explanations
Tasks and findings are explained in language that makes sense to the young person rather than relying on technical terminology.
Small touches matter
A small fidget is included as part of the assessment experience, alongside opportunities for movement or breaks where needed.
From First Enquiry to Your Report
Background
Parents provide information about development, education and the areas they would particularly like to understand. School information can also be considered where useful.
Assessment
The young person completes a range of cognitive and learning tasks in a supportive, child-centred environment.
Making sense of the profile
The different findings are considered together alongside developmental, educational and contextual information.
Your report
A detailed written report is provided within 10 working days with conclusions, practical recommendations and clear next steps.
Understanding That Can Be Used in Practice
The aim is to make the findings useful to the young person, their family and the people supporting their learning.
A clearer understanding of how they learn
Including strengths, areas that may require more effort and how the different findings fit together.
Clear diagnostic conclusions
Where the evidence supports it, the assessment can formally identify a specific learning difference such as dyslexia.
Practical recommendations
Recommendations are linked to the young person’s individual profile and may consider learning, classroom approaches, home and future study.
Findings are explained in an accessible way so the young person can begin to understand what helps them learn and where their strengths lie.
Book a Cognitive SpLD Assessment
A detailed cognitive and learning assessment with diagnostic conclusions, practical recommendations and a full written report.
What Can This Assessment Identify?
Specific learning differences
Where the evidence supports it, a formal diagnosis such as dyslexia can be made. Dyscalculia, dyspraxia or dysgraphia can also be explored where relevant.
A wider learning profile
Even where a formal diagnosis is not indicated, the assessment can provide useful information about how the young person processes and learns.
ADHD & autism diagnosis
This assessment does not formally diagnose ADHD or autism. If wider neurodevelopmental factors appear relevant, appropriate next steps can be discussed.
Before You Book
Does my child need to be struggling significantly at school?
No. Assessment can be useful whenever there is a question about how a young person learns, including where their progress or effort does not seem to reflect their underlying abilities.
Can the assessment diagnose dyslexia?
Yes. Where the evidence supports it, the assessment can provide a formal diagnosis of dyslexia or another specific learning difference within the scope of the assessment.
Will you ask the school for information?
School information can be helpful in understanding how the young person learns in their usual educational environment and may be requested where relevant.
What if my child is anxious about assessment?
The session is paced around the young person, with breaks and adjustments where needed. Tasks are explained clearly and the focus is on helping them feel comfortable and understood.
Does this assessment diagnose ADHD or autism?
No. It is a cognitive and specific learning difference assessment. Where broader neurodevelopmental factors appear relevant, this can be discussed and appropriate next steps recommended.
How long will it take to receive the report?
The full written report is provided within 10 working days of the assessment.
Ready to Understand How Your Child Learns?
Book an assessment or get in touch if you would like to check whether this is the right starting point for your child.