Family support category
Find the right send testing and assessments for your family.
ParentPatch helps families understand when send testing and assessments may fit, compare service types, and prepare clearer questions before booking support.
What is a SEND assessor?
Use this definition to understand the support before you compare practitioners or book an appointment.
SEND assessor
Special educational needs specialist
A professional - often an educational psychologist, speech therapist, or specialist teacher - who assesses children for conditions that affect how they learn or develop. This includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, language delays, and sensory processing differences. Their written report can unlock extra support at school, an EHCP, or a better understanding of why your child is struggling.
Questions to ask before booking
What does the assessment process involve for my child - how long does it take, and how will you make it feel manageable for them?
What do we actually receive at the end - a formal report, a diagnosis, recommendations - and how soon after the assessment?
Related support
Families often compare this category with adjacent support routes.
Related guides
Useful reading before choosing support.
Parents
SEND assessments: where to start
A parent-friendly starting point for SEND testing, developmental screening, school support, and follow-up plans.
ParentsEarly signs of SEND in toddlers
Common communication, social, sensory, behavioural, and physical patterns worth raising with a health visitor or GP.
Parents11+ exam prep: how to support your child without the stress
How to approach 11+ preparation with structure, confidence, and less pressure for the whole family.