Educational Psychology Assessments
Understanding How Your Child Learns
If your child is struggling at school, it can be difficult to understand what is behind their difficulties.
They may be working hard but not making the progress you would expect. They may find reading, writing or maths particularly challenging, struggle to concentrate or organise themselves, or become anxious and frustrated around schoolwork.
An educational psychology assessment provides a detailed picture of how your child thinks, learns and approaches different tasks. It can help identify their strengths, understand areas of difficulty and provide practical recommendations to support them at home and in school.
At West Hampstead Child & Young Person Clinic, our educational psychologists provide individualised assessments for children and young people, with a focus on understanding the whole child rather than simply identifying areas of difficulty.
When Might an Assessment Be Helpful?
You may be considering an educational psychology assessment if your child:
Is struggling to keep up with their peers despite receiving additional support
Has difficulties with reading, writing or mathematics
Finds it difficult to concentrate or sustain attention
Has difficulties with memory, processing information or following instructions
Struggles with planning, organisation or completing tasks
Becomes frustrated, upset or anxious about learning
Has lost confidence in their academic abilities
Appears to have significant strengths in some areas but unexpected difficulties in others
Is experiencing difficulties with school attendance or school avoidance
Is preparing for an important transition between schools or educational stages
Has an existing diagnosis of ADHD, autism or another neurodevelopmental difference, and you would like to understand their learning profile
Would benefit from a clearer understanding of their educational needs
You don't need to know exactly what is causing your child's difficulties before arranging an assessment. Understanding what is happening is part of the purpose of the assessment.
Educational Psychology Assessment Steps
Every assessment is tailored to the individual child and the questions you would like answered.
(Expandable Sections, press + for more information)
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We begin by understanding your concerns and discussing your child's development, education, strengths and current difficulties.
This gives us an opportunity to understand what you are hoping to learn from the assessment and whether educational psychology is the most appropriate route.
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The educational psychologist will spend time with your child completing a series of age-appropriate activities and assessments.
Depending on the purpose of the assessment, these may explore areas such as:
Verbal reasoning
Visual and spatial reasoning
Working memory
Processing speed
Attention and concentration
Learning and memory
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Problem-solving and reasoning
The assessment is not simply about obtaining scores. We are interested in how your child approaches different tasks, what helps them to succeed and where they may encounter difficulties.
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Children's learning can be influenced by many different factors.
Where relevant, we may consider emotional wellbeing, confidence, motivation, relationships, attention, the classroom environment and your child's previous educational experiences.
This helps us avoid looking at academic performance in isolation.
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Following the assessment, we will explain the findings clearly and give you an opportunity to ask questions.
We will discuss your child's strengths as well as areas where they may need additional support.
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A key purpose of an educational psychology assessment is to identify what can be done to help.
Recommendations may include strategies for home and school, approaches to teaching and learning, classroom adjustments or suggestions for further assessment or support where appropriate.
What Will The Assessment Tell Us?
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We can explore the different factors that may be contributing to their difficulties.
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The assessment can identify patterns in your child's learning and performance that may indicate areas requiring further investigation or support.
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The assessment can provide useful information for discussions with teachers and other professionals about appropriate educational support and adjustments.
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Understanding strengths can be just as important as identifying difficulties. It can help children develop confidence and allow adults to build learning around what works for them.
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Recommendations are based on your child's individual profile rather than a generic list of strategies.
Meet our Educational Psychologist
Sara
Sara Bierer, Educational Psychologist
A Strengths-Based Approach
An assessment should not leave a child feeling that something is “wrong” with them.
Children often become aware that they are finding things harder than their peers. Without the right understanding and support, this can affect confidence and motivation.
The goal is to turn assessment findings into practical steps that can make everyday life and learning easier.
Our approach is therefore strengths-based and child-centred.
We want to understand:
What your child does well
How they learn best
What motivates them
Where they experience difficulties
What may be getting in the way of learning
What adults can do differently to help
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and apply.
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Not necessarily. Educational psychology can also be helpful for children experiencing difficulties with attention, executive functioning, confidence, emotional wellbeing or adapting to the demands of school.
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Educational psychology assessments are primarily concerned with understanding learning, development and educational needs. They are different from diagnostic assessments for conditions such as ADHD or autism.
If diagnostic questions arise during the assessment, we can discuss whether further assessment may be appropriate.
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School information can sometimes be very helpful in understanding a child's educational experience. With your consent, we can discuss the appropriate level of school involvement before the assessment.
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We will explain the process to your child in an age-appropriate way. We aim to make the assessment a positive and supportive experience rather than something that feels like a test they have to “pass”.
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We understand that some children can feel nervous about being assessed. Our educational psychologist takes time to establish rapport and adapt the approach to the individual child.
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Yes. The findings and recommendations can provide useful information for parents and schools when considering how best to support a child's learning and development.
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That's very common. You don't need to have worked out the answer before contacting us. We can talk through your concerns and help you understand which type of assessment or support may be most appropriate.