This initial meeting is usually online with the parents or teachers, where we ask for background information and your needs and wishes. If the therapist needs to meet the young person, we can arrange a separate meeting and recommend the next steps, which may include advice, in-depth assessments, school training, or a full package of support.
We take a two-hour developmental history to gather information on the young person’s development from birth to the present day via an online meeting. A separate face-to-face or online meeting with the young person assesses their individual profile using standardised tools. The young person may wish to consider their wishes and aspirations before the meeting.
Tasks from a wide range of standardised assessments may be used, including assessing inference, language and social-emotional understanding, depending on the young person’s needs. We ask for copies of previous reports and consent to liaise with other professionals.
All assessments and information gathered are analysed and shared with parents and teachers in a feedback and planning meeting. A diagnostic report provides recommendations for meeting individual adjustments, SEN or EHCP needs. A planning meeting between parents, teachers and professionals considers how to implement the recommended adjustment and support.
You may chose an online or face-to-face consultation. We also offer school and home visits within a 25-mile travel distance. The Roundway Centre is a comfortable, homely, light, airy, calm, and quiet space that can be tailored to personal preferences and needs, such as adjusting the light and sound in the room for young people with sensory needs. The waiting room is quiet and comfortable and we can accommodate individual preferences.
You explain to the young person that they will spend time with the therapist who would like to know them better and learn about their motivations, priorities, and opinions.
They will also look at pictures and books and do small tasks to identify their style and strategies to make their experiences more comfortable. Their individual perspective is valued and respected, so they feel accepted and listened to.
You can download a helpful guide for your child, Guidance for the Young person.
It doesn’t matter if the young person finds it difficult to talk in the consultation as we aim to gain their trust and to interact naturally in a relaxed setting. We use various media, including drawing and art, observation, and sensitive listening to the young person. When young people feel comfortable without the demand for talking, they typically feel confident and interact more freely with the therapist.
At the end of the consultation, we summarise the young person’s profile, unique strengths, motivations, attributes, and insights that may be harnessed in a personalised plan. We recommend a range of adjustments, including their environment and the way people interact with them and adapt to their strengths and style. We recommend individual interventions and support evidenced in the assessment to gain support and funding.
Please email or telephone the Roundway Centre as soon as possible (office@roundwaycentre.org.uk), and we can arrange another day or time for you.
Guidance For Your Child's Assessment
The Roundway Centre’s guidance page explains how assessments help young people feel understood and supported. It outlines what to expect during the process and how the results can shape personalised strategies.
Resources
We help people connect with organisations and local services to receive the best available support. If your child’s or young person’s needs lie in social communication and language, we provide links to help support and resources.