Standard psycho-educational assessment

This  assessment is carried out by a psychologist to help determine the causes and most likely solutions for academic difficulties. It will also determine if the child is eligible for additional supports and will supply the reports necessary for schools to apply for additional resource allocation.

The student referred will be individually assessed. The assessment instruments used will depend on the reason for referral but will normally include the measurement of intellectual ability and attainment in literacy and numeracy.  Hearing and vision will also be screened in case they are contributing to any learning disability. Parents and teachers will be invited to provide information relevant to the assessment.

Report

The school and the parents will receive a detailed professional report indicating any special educational needs that the child may have, including dyslexia or other specific learning disabilities. The report will also state whether the child is eligible for additional support for a ‘low- incidence disability’. Recommendations for interventions may also be made and suggestions offered on strategies to overcome any difficulties noted.

Benefits

• The school will have the evidence needed to apply for additional resources.
• The school gets recommendations on interventions that they can implement to address specific problems.
• The results can be used to develop educational plans for individual students.