What do the Assessments include?
Autism Assessments
To formally identify and diagnose autism in both children (3yrs+) and adults, we use psychometrics such as the ASRS, the CAT-Q, the AQ and tools such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R) which are the ‘Gold Standard ‘assessment tools as recommended by NICE guidelines.
Find out what you can expect from your child’s assessment in our Autism Assessment Guide for parents/carers.
ADHD Assessments
To formally identify and diagnose ADHD/ADD in children from 6-18yrs, we use psychometrics such as the Connors4, SNAP and also assessment tools such as the ADHD Child Evaluation (ACE) which is a semi-structured clinical diagnostic interview for ADHD in children and young people, as well as a Qb Check (quantified behaviour check).
Find out what you can expect from your child’s assessment in our ADHD Assessment Guide for parents/carers.
As a team, we prefer to use the phrase ‘recognising’ neurodivergent children or adults, rather than ‘diagnosing’ as diagnosis implies illness, and neurodivergence is not an illness! We think about neurodivergence as being a difference in brain style and we want to capture individuality, strengths, and possible challenges.
What happens after the Assessment?
Every individual’s brain has its own strengths, ways of thinking, interests and things that come naturally to them. At the GAC, we want everyone to come away from their assessment understanding more about what is brilliant about their brain, as well as why some things may feel harder or require more support. Whether a child is autistic, ADHD or both, diagnosis is the beginning of that understanding, not the end of the process. We help the child, their family and school build on their strengths, understand their individual needs and make practical changes so that their environment works better for them.
As one parent told us:
“The biggest difference has come from my child’s understanding about himself, which is what I wanted all along.” — Vicci
For children with ADHD, and particularly younger children, we believe in exploring practical, evidence-informed support before moving towards medication wherever clinically appropriate. This might include changes at home and school, executive-function and emotional-regulation support, movement and play, and considering sleep, sensory needs, eating and nutrition.
This reflects NICE guidance, which recommends putting appropriate environmental support in place and reviewing how a child is doing before medication is offered. For us, this means building on strengths and adapting the environment around the child.
Medication can be an important and effective option for some children, and we can talk families through the pathways available if they would like to explore it. We simply don’t see medication as the only next step following an ADHD diagnosis.
Post Assessment Reports and Sharing Outcomes
Following the assessment, you will be invited to a feedback session and will receive a full copy of the assessment report. During feedback, we will talk through the assessment outcome, strengths and support needs, answer questions and agree practical, personalised recommendations for home, education/work and everyday life.
Children and young people are warmly invited to join the feedback session for as much or as little as feels comfortable. We want them to be part of understanding their own assessment, rather than simply having adults talk about them.
We also write directly to each child or young person following their assessment, explaining the outcome in an age-appropriate, positive and neuroaffirmative way. Their letter includes the strengths we have noticed and helps them begin to understand what their individual brain may find easier and where they may need some support.
As another parent described their experience:
“The assessment team is person-centred and celebrates strengths whilst guiding you through everything with such warmth and knowledge.” — Emma
School Support and Liaison
We know that well-targeted changes at school can make a significant difference. Following assessment, we provide specific, individualised recommendations based on what we have learnt about your child throughout their assessment, not simply a standard list of ADHD or autism adjustments.
We also offer a meeting with school to discuss the assessment findings, help staff understand your child’s individual profile and agree practical ways of supporting them. Our aim is to turn what we have learnt during the assessment into changes that genuinely help in their everyday school life.
As one SENDCo who has worked with GAC told us:
“They help young people to understand their challenges and strengths and work closely with schools to develop personalised approaches to support them.”
Mentoring and Post-Assessment Support
Some children and young people benefit from having their own space to learn more about their brain and discover strategies that work for them. Families can choose to book additional sessions with our Young Person’s Neurodevelopmental Practitioner following assessment.
Sessions are individual to the child and can include play and movement, understanding emotions, executive-function skills, friendships, school, organisation and growing independence. We also offer additional parent support to help families understand their child’s profile and find practical approaches that work at home.
Our aim is to help children understand and value their brain, build on their strengths and find support for the things they find harder.
You can read more about the experiences of children, families and education professionals in our Client Testimonials and Reviews.
Additional mentoring and parent-support sessions are available at an extra charge.
Arrange an assessment
Fill in our enquiry form for a free pre-evaluation screening assessment. Let us lead you through the process, we’ve got you!
Contact Us
If you’d like to discuss things in more detail or book an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us by sending an email to enquiries@tgac.co.uk or by using the form below.