Pre-Screening and Early Identification

 

Pre-screening is ideal for families who have concerns about their child’s development, communication, learning, or behaviour, but are unsure where to start or are waiting for a formal assessment.

 

These early, informal assessments help families and settings understand a child’s developmental, communication, sensory, social, and emotional profile—informing next steps such as early support, EHCP applications, or healthcare referrals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits of pre-screening:

 

Provides an early understanding of a child’s unique strengths, differences, and needs

 

Helps identify potential barriers to learning, communication, or emotional wellbeing

 

Informs tailored support strategies at home and in educational settings

 

Offers clear evidence for SEN support, EHCP requests, or professional referrals

 

Reduces stress and uncertainty by helping families know where to start

 

Supports earlier intervention, leading to better long-term outcomes

 

Encourages positive collaboration between parents, carers, and professionals

 

 

I also support Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) and offer LEGO®-Based Therapy, Sensory Integration Facilitation, ELKLAN Speech and Language (SALT) Assessments, Dyslexia Screening, and mental health support.

 

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​My assessments provide a holistic evaluation across the four broad areas of SEND:

 

Communication and Interaction

 

Cognition and Learning

 

Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH)

 

Sensory and/or Physical Needs

 

Comprehensive SEND & Developmental Assessment Packages

 

Each assessment includes tracking developmental milestones from infancy through early years, alongside school readiness screening to support smooth educational transitions.

 

Using validated and standardised aligned NHS- and LA-recognised tools, I also assess emotional regulation, behavioural patterns, attachment and trauma-informed factors and communication skills.

 

Parental and educator feedback is integral to capturing your child’s unique strengths, routines, and challenges—ensuring reports are robust and tailored to support referrals, EHCP applications, and multi-agency planning.

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Who Can Benefit?

 

Families in Tyne and Wear and across the UK seeking expert insight into their child’s development and emotional well-being with evidence aligned to NHS and Local Authority standards.

 

Nurseries and Early Years Settings needing specialist external perspectives for intervention planning, staff training, and referral support.

 

Local Authorities requiring standardised, compliant assessments to underpin statutory decisions and multi-agency collaboration.

 

 

Why Choose My Services?

 

I am a qualified EYFS SENCO and a Integrated Counsellor.

 

Trauma-informed, neurodiversity-aware, and family-centred approach

 

Clear, actionable reports aligned with NHS and LA guidelines

 

Fast turnaround with results delivered within 2 weeks of assessment completion

 

Collaborative process involving parents, educators, and professionals

 

Based in Tyne and Wear with flexible UK-wide online support

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Fully Insured and hold an Enhanced DBS.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: Are your child development assessments aligned with the NHS and Local Authorities?

A: All assessments I use—are fully aligned with NHS and Local Authority (LA) guidelines. This ensures that data in my reports could be used for referrals, supporting Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) applications, and specialist interventions across Tyne and Wear and the wider UK.

 

Q: Do your assessments provide a diagnosis?

A: No, these assessments are identification tools, not diagnostic tests. They help identify areas of need, provide supporting documentation for EHCP applications, and offer evidence to guide further professional exploration and referrals to specialist services such as CAMHS, SALT, or occupational therapy.

 

Q: Can I access your child emotional and developmental assessments if I live outside Tyne and Wear?

A: Absolutely! While I am based in Tyne and Wear, I offer secure online assessments across the UK when one-to-one observations are not required. This flexible approach ensures children nationwide can access specialist developmental and SEND assessments.

 

Q: How do your assessments support Early Years settings and Local Authorities?

A: My standardised and observational assessments provide Early Years settings, nurseries, schools, and Local Authorities with robust evidence to inform graduated intervention planning, staff training, and multi-agency decision-making in line with current statutory guidance.

 

Q: What makes your assessment approach trauma-informed?

A: I use attachment-informed frameworks and consider early relational experiences, family context, and sensory needs to ensure assessments and recommendations promote emotional well-being and resilience. This approach aligns with best practices in trauma-informed care supported by NHS safeguarding and mental health services.

 

Q: Why is the developmental assessment with parents/carers important?

A: The developmental assessment includes a detailed parent/carer interview capturing your child’s developmental milestones, pregnancy and birth history, and family environment. This information is crucial to understand early influences on your child’s emotional and behavioural development and helps create personalised, trauma-informed support plans aligned with NHS and Local Authority best practices.

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Q: Why do you use a tiered system rather than individual prices for assessments?

A: The tiered system offers flexible, comprehensive packages that combine multiple standardised tools and observations to provide holistic insights tailored to different levels of need. This approach ensures clarity, cost-effectiveness, and a coherent pathway from screening through to multi-agency referrals — aligning with best practices for developmental and SEND assessments recommended by NHS and Local Authorities.

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Q: Why do you offer SEND services through packages instead of individual assessments?

A: Packages ensure a holistic, multi-dimensional view of your child’s needs, offering better value and clearer guidance. They combine developmental history, parent input, and validated assessment tools to provide comprehensive, actionable reports.

 

Q: What age range do your SEND assessments cover?

A: My SEND assessments are specifically designed for children aged 2 to 7 years, focusing on early years through Key Stage 1, with tools tailored to this developmental stage.

 

Q: How is private SENCO support different from nursery or day care SEND support?

A: Private SENCO services provide specialist, independent assessments aligned with NHS and Local Authority guidance, offering detailed written reports and faster referrals. Nurseries and day care often provide general SEND support but lack capacity for in-depth, individual assessments and formal reporting.

 

Q: How do you ensure data privacy and protection?

A: All data collected during SEND assessments and counselling is stored securely, anonymised using Client Reference IDs, and handled in full compliance with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guidelines.

 

Q: How does your lived experience influence your SEND support?

A: As a parent of two Neurodivergent children and a late-diagnosed autistic adult, I bring deep personal insight and empathy to every assessment, creating a supportive, understanding environment for families navigating SEND challenges.

 

Q: How soon can I expect to receive my child’s assessment results and report?

A: Reports are typically delivered within 2 weeks of completing all assessments. Each report is clear, actionable, and designed to support timely referrals, EHCP planning, and tailored intervention strategies.

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Book your package today and gain the clarity and evidence you need to secure the right support for your child.

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Important Notes;

 

These assessments are not diagnostic tools but identification and support tools. They help highlight areas of need, provide essential evidence for families, settings, EHCP applications and can support further professional referrals for exploration of need.

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Results delivered within 2 weeks of completing all assessments

 

Aligned with NHS and Local Authority guidance

 

Provides the robust standardised evidence often required for EHCP applications and specialist referrals for further exploration of need. 

 

Designed for families, nurseries, and Local Authorities across Tyne and Wear and UK-wide

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Early understanding unlocks your child’s potential. Whether local to Tyne and Wear or anywhere in the UK, secure your tailored assessment package now.

 

Contact me today to discuss your child’s needs and find the right package for your family or setting.

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