top of page

Specialist Assessment. Clear Next Steps.

Could this assessment help?

Whether your child attends mainstream school, alternative provision, is home educated, currently out of education or has experienced disrupted learning because of medical needs, home life or illness, the assessment focuses on understanding their learning needs and identifying the right next steps.

 

Learning

✓  Learning has slowed or stalled.
✓ Progress is significantly below expectations.
✓ Learning is becoming increasingly effortful.

Understanding

✓ Home and school have different observations.
✓  A diagnosis or label doesn't fully explain the child's daily learning profile.
✓ The precise foundational gaps remain unclear (distinct from early years framework stages).

Support

✓ Previous interventions have had limited impact.
✓  Greater clarity is needed about what to teach next to bridge 1:1 support with independent classroom functioning.
✓  Clear educational recommendations and actionable micro-targets would support planning.

Evidence

✓  Independent educational evidence is required.
✓  Evidence is needed for school discussions,an EHC Needs Assessment request (EHCNA) or EHCP reviews.

What the assessment explores
The assessment builds a detailed picture of how your child learns, identifying strengths, barriers and the most effective next steps.

Core Attainment:

​

• Reading

• Comprehension
• Writing
• Spelling
• Mathematics

Cognitive Skills:

​

• Working memory
• Processing speed
• Sequencing
• Information processing

Learning Behaviours:

​

  • Attention and concentration

  • Motor skills and handwriting

  • Organisation and independence

  • Sustaining effort

Learning Profile:

​

  • Strengths

  • Learning barriers

  • Foundational gaps (distinct from EYFS)

  • Classroom micro-targets

" Every child is unique. Every assessment should reflect that too."

Jo Packard

Primary Education Specialist

Beyond the Assessment

​

The Primary Needs Assessment is designed to identify the educational support a child needs right now, while also providing independent educational evidence that can support future statutory decision-making where appropriate.

 

Where appropriate, it can also provide independent educational evidence to support:

  • Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNA)

  • EHCP Section B – understanding educational needs

  • EHCP Section E – identifying appropriate educational outcomes

  • EHCP Section F – informing educational provision and recommendations

  • Annual Reviews

  • School reviews and SEND Support planning

  • Individual Education Plans (IEPs)

  • Alternative Provision placements and planning

Professional Context

 

The report provides robust independent educational evidence that may support SEND Support planning, Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments, Annual Reviews and the educational content of EHCP Sections B (Special Educational Needs), E (Outcomes) and F (Special Educational Provision), where appropriate.

 

Decisions regarding Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments, EHCP content and funding remain the responsibility of the Local Authority and relevant health professionals.

​

This is an educational assessment, not a clinical or diagnostic assessment. It identifies learning strengths, barriers, foundational gaps and next steps for planning, teaching, support and educational decision-making.

Ready to understand a child's learning needs?

bottom of page