Assessments

An assessment helps us understand your child’s strengths, any barriers they may be experiencing, and what support, if any, may be helpful. The type of assessment we recommend depends on your child and the reason for the assessment.

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Assessment session

What an assessment can tell us

An assessment helps us build a clearer picture of your child’s skills, strengths and areas where they may need support.

We look at the concerns that brought you to us and explore what may be contributing to them. Depending on your child and the reason for the assessment, this may involve observation, informal activities, discussion with you and, where appropriate, formal assessment tools.

Not every child who comes to Bloom needs a full assessment. If we think a consultation or another approach would be more useful, we will recommend that instead.

The right assessment for your child

There isn’t one assessment approach that is right for every child. We consider your child’s age, communication or developmental level, the concerns you have raised and what we need to understand.

For some children, a formal standardised assessment provides useful information. For younger children or children with limited language, we may learn more through play, observation, interaction and talking with you about what you see in everyday life.

We choose the approach that gives your child the best opportunity to show us what they can do and gives us the most useful information to guide our recommendations.

Before the assessment

Before the appointment, we may ask you about your child’s development, your main concerns and any previous assessments or reports that may be relevant. This helps your therapist understand the wider picture and plan the assessment appropriately.

What happens during an assessment

We start by talking with you about your concerns and your child’s development. What happens next will depend on their age, the reason for the assessment and what we need to understand.

An assessment may include observation, conversation, play or informal activities, structured tasks and, where appropriate, formal assessment tools. For younger children, much of the assessment may feel like play. Older children and teenagers may complete more structured activities.

The aim is to help each child or teenager feel comfortable and give them the best opportunity to show us what they can do.

Afterwards

What you receive.

A written report

Every full assessment includes a written report setting out what we did, what we found and what we recommend.

A conversation about the findings

We talk you through the results so you understand what they mean in practice, and you can ask questions.

A clear recommendation

Recommendations are individual to your child. Depending on what we find, we may recommend therapy, strategies and advice to use at home or at school, a period of monitoring, or input from another professional where that would be helpful. We may also let you know that therapy is not currently needed. An assessment does not automatically mean your child will need therapy.

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