“What should I tell my child when they visit for assessment?”
For younger children:
“We are going to visit [name of psychologist] who is a psychologist. She sees lots of children your age and really enjoys helping them with their learning. You are going to do a variety of activities. Some activities will involve blocks or putting puzzles together, and [name of psychologist] will also ask you questions about lots of different things. It will be fun and there is nothing to worry about.”
For older children:
“You are going to see [name of psychologist], who is an educational psychologist. She helps students better understand their individual learning profile. You will be completing some standard psychological tests that are designed to assess your strengths and weaknesses in a variety of areas. The process will involve blocks, colorful patterns, some memory recall of digits and some verbal questions. It is important that you do your best and try to answer all the questions presented to you. It will be fun and there is nothing to worry about.”
“What is included in the assessment report?”
The exact details will depend on the tests administered. However, in general, your child’s profile will be mapped on a graph in relation to standardised results for children of the same age. The report will contain background information, results, discussion of the results and detailed recommendations – typically including teaching strategies and individual learning strategy recommendations.
“Will you talk to my child’s school/teachers?”
Yes, we are happy to talk to school staff to explain assessment results and recommendations. BUT we will only do so with your permission. We are a 100% private and independent service, which means that you control what information (if any) is given to whom.