Assessment or diagnosis?
A developmental assessment can organise strengths and support needs. A medical diagnosis is a separate process completed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Parent resources
Clear language for high-stakes decisions.
These concise guides help families prepare questions and understand common terms. They are general information, not individual medical or educational advice.
Preparing for a first conversation
Write down what is going well, what feels difficult, when concerns appear and what you hope will become easier. You do not need perfect terminology.
Choosing a centre
Ask who reviews goals, how progress is explained, how safeguarding works, what fees include and what happens if the first plan is not helping.
What school readiness means
Readiness is broader than academics. Communication, regulation, participation, routines, wellbeing and the demands of the next setting all matter.
Understanding intensity
More hours or a smaller ratio are not automatically better. Intensity should have a clear purpose, remain tolerable for the child and be reviewed.
Sharing child information safely
Ask for the centre’s confirmed secure process before sending reports, videos or health information. A general contact form should collect only what is needed to respond.
A useful rule
Ask what the claim means for your child.
Words such as individualised, inclusive, specialist and evidence-informed can sound reassuring but still be vague. Ask who makes the decision, what evidence is used, how the plan changes and what limits apply. Specific process is more useful than impressive language.
A calmer next step
You do not need every answer before speaking to us.
Begin with what you are noticing. We will listen before recommending a next step.