Specialist SEND Assessment

Educational Psychology for
Children and Young People with SEND

Expert assessments, EHCP reports and practical recommendations - supporting schools, families and local authorities to understand and meet children's needs.

What EP provides
Statutory EHCP assessments & reports
Cognitive & developmental profiling
School observations & classroom assessment
Clear, practical intervention recommendations
Multi-disciplinary team collaboration
Remote assessment available UK-wide
Understanding EP

What Does an Educational Psychologist Do?

An educational psychologist (EP) is a specialist who assesses how children and young people think, learn and develop — and what factors might be affecting their progress in education and life.

Unlike occupational therapists or speech and language therapists, EPs typically focus on assessment and consultation rather than ongoing therapy. Their role is to produce a detailed understanding of a child's cognitive, emotional and social profile — and translate that into clear, practical recommendations for schools, families and local authorities.

EP assessments form a critical part of the EHCP process and are increasingly commissioned by local authorities, schools and parents seeking independent evaluation. KidsKinetic EPs also offer remote assessment for families and authorities outside our in-person regions.

EP assessment looks at:

Cognitive ability — reasoning, memory, processing speed
Learning profile — how the child learns best, barriers and strengths
Social & emotional development — wellbeing, self-esteem, anxiety
Communication — language comprehension and expression
Behaviour & attention — regulation, executive function, ADHD
Educational needs — what provision is needed to enable progress
Who We Support

Who Our Educational Psychology Service is For

We provide EP assessments for schools, local authorities, parents and multi-disciplinary teams across England - ages 0–25.

Schools & SENCOs

Schools seeking EP assessment to inform EHCP requests, intervention planning or to better understand a child's learning and developmental profile.

Local Authorities

Local authorities commissioning statutory EP assessments as part of the EHCP process - including cases where the authority's own EP resource is at capacity.

Parents & Carers

Families seeking an independent EP report - either to support an EHCP request, to resolve a disagreement with a local authority, or simply to better understand their child's needs.

Multi-Disciplinary Teams

SEND teams, health professionals and other therapists working with a child who would benefit from EP input as part of a wider multi-disciplinary assessment.

EHCP Reviews

Children with an existing EHCP who require updated EP input at annual review - ensuring their plan continues to reflect their current needs and provision.

Appeals & Tribunals

Families or schools requiring independent EP evidence for SEND tribunal proceedings or disagreement resolution processes with the local authority.

Our EP Services

Our Educational Psychology Services

All EP assessments are conducted by fully qualified, BPS-chartered educational psychologists with specialist SEND experience.

EP Assessments & EHCP Reports

Comprehensive statutory-quality EP assessments, including all required sections for the EHCP process. Written reports clearly articulate the child's needs, the impact on their education, and the provision required.

Cognitive & Developmental Profiling

In-depth cognitive assessment using validated tools - producing a detailed profile of the child's strengths, needs and learning style, which informs targeted, evidence-based intervention.

Recommendations & Intervention Planning

Clear, practical recommendations for schools and families - translating assessment findings into actionable strategies and identifying the provision most likely to support the child's progress.

School Observations

Direct observation in the classroom and other school settings - assessing how the child functions in their educational environment and identifying environmental factors affecting their learning and wellbeing.

Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration

EP work alongside KidsKinetic OTs, SLTs and school support staff - contributing to an integrated, whole-child understanding and a coordinated approach to the child's support.

Remote Assessment

EP assessments available remotely for families and authorities across the UK - using validated remote testing protocols and video consultation, with the same quality of report output as in-person assessment.

What to Expect

What You Can Expect from Our EP Service

Clarity, confidence and a clear path forward - for schools, families and local authorities.

Faster Assessment

No waiting for overstretched LA EP services. We respond within 2 working days and begin assessment promptly - keeping EHCP timescales on track.

Clear Recommendations

Our reports are written to be understood - not just by professionals, but by families. Practical, specific and jargon-free wherever possible.

Deeper Understanding

Schools and families develop a much richer understanding of the child's cognitive profile, learning style and the specific factors shaping their progress.

Stronger EHCP Submissions

High-quality EP evidence that robustly evidences need - increasing the likelihood of an EHCP being granted and the right provision being specified.

Improved Educational Planning

Schools receive targeted, realistic recommendations they can act on - improving the quality of SEN support and the impact it has on the child.

Coordinated Support

EP findings integrate seamlessly with OT and SLT input - giving a complete, multi-disciplinary picture of the child's needs and how to meet them.

Our Approach

Collaborative, Transparent and Practical

We believe EP work is most effective when it is done with families and schools - not to them.

1

Refer & Discuss

We discuss the referral with the school or family, understand the context and agree the scope of the assessment before we begin.

Within 2 days
2

Assess

Direct assessment with the child - using standardised tools, observation and consultation with parents and school staff to build a complete picture.

1–2 sessions
3

Report

A detailed, clearly written report - covering findings, conclusions and specific recommendations for school, home and any statutory processes.

2 weeks
4

Follow-Up

We are available to discuss the report with schools, families and local authorities - and to contribute to EHCP meetings, review processes and multi-disciplinary planning.

On request
Take the Next Step

Ready to Commission an EP Assessment?

Whether you're a school, local authority or family - get in touch and we'll talk through the right assessment approach for your situation.