Consultation and assessment

What does consultation and assessment involve?

As part of an assessment, educational psychologists (EPs), trainee EPs (TEPs), assistant psychologists (APs) and inclusion facilitators (IFs) triangulate data/information from a variety of sources, drawing upon a full range of evidence . They typically use a variety of materials and refer to existing professional's reports and information. Assessment might involve:

• Standardised cognitive assessments. These can explore areas such as skills for learning (such as verbal, nonverbal or spatial skills) or attainment levels, and produce a score which shows where the child has scored in relation to a sample of other children of the same age.
• Dynamic assessment.
• Checklists and questionnaires completed by the child, parents/carers and school staff. These may explore areas such as communication, learning and play skills, working memory and sensory preferences. Checklists and questionnaires sometimes give a standardised score, suggesting where the child has scored in relation to a sample of other children of the same age.
• Observation of the child.
• Tools and activities using discussion, drawing and games to gather the child’s views.
• Consultation with parents/carers, school staff and other professionals.

For more information about anything detailed on our webpages, including how education professionals can make a referral, please email the Psychology and Therapeutic Services team at psychology&therapeuticservices@suffolk.gov.uk.

Our consultation offer

Our main consultation offer includes the Analysis of Additional Needs Tool (AANT) and multi-professional Solution Circles, more information on these can be found by clicking the buttons below. Within our traded packages schools can request further individual consultation or consultation that considers wider school systems. 

Information about virtual consultations and assessments

Consultations and assessments can be carried out face to face in “real life” or using online/remote video platforms. Our team of educational psychologists (EPs) can be flexible in choice of approach to an assessment in line with AEP (Association of Educational Psychology) guidance. EPs are informed by professional guidance on conducting assessments in person and virtually. The arrangements for an assessment are a professional judgement, made by an EP, taking into consideration the needs, views and preferences of the child/young person, their parents/carers and the demands of the local context.

Regardless of the mode of assessment chosen by an EP, high professional standards will always be upheld. All EP assessments must comply with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) professional standards and take account of British Psychological Society (BPS) codes of ethical practice. All EP advice is GDPR compliant, and quality assured to ensure robust psychological advice is provided. A virtual assessment is fully Code of Practice compliant, and literature indicates that online methods are effective (see reference list) and may be easier for some children and families to participate in this way.

Any limitations to an EP assessment will be stated in the report.