The Child ADHD Assessment Guide
Chapter 5
Before you start
Once you are seriously considering an assessment for your child, a set of practical questions tends to follow. The two that matter most are how to bring the school on board and how to talk to your child about it. This chapter covers both, along with the cost question, so you can begin with a clear head rather than a knot in your stomach.
Why the school matters so much
An ADHD assessment for a child draws on more than one viewpoint. What you see at home and what staff see at school are both part of the picture, because traits often look different across settings. Bringing the school in early makes the assessment fuller and fairer, and it usually makes the school a useful ally rather than a hurdle.
The person to ask for is the SENCO, the special educational needs coordinator. Every school has one, and part of their role is to help with exactly this kind of conversation.
Start with the class teacher
Ask for a short meeting and share, plainly, what you are noticing at home. Ask what they see in class. You are comparing notes, not making a case.
Ask to involve the SENCO
If concerns are shared, ask to speak to the SENCO. They can explain what support the school can already offer and how they record observations.
Request the school's observations in writing
A short written summary of how your child manages attention, activity and learning is invaluable for an assessment, and the school is used to providing it.
Gather what you see at home
Keep a few notes of the situations that are hardest. Alongside the school's account, this gives the clinician two honest viewpoints to work from.
A calm way to bring the school into the conversation.
The cost question, answered openly
We think you should be able to see exactly what something costs before you commit to it, so our fees are fixed and published in full. There are no hidden add-ons and no pressure to take anything your child does not need.
The table below shows the assessment fees. If autism is also a question for your child, a combined pathway is available at a reduced rate. You can see the complete list on our fees page.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| ADHD assessmentAdult or child (age 6+) | £675 |
| Standalone autism (ASD) assessmentADI-R and ADOS-2 | £1,200 |
| Autism (ASD) top-up after a NeuroFX ADHD assessmentReduced rate when combined | £950 |
Treatment, if you choose to pursue it, is priced separately and only ever after a diagnosis. You will find those costs set out plainly in treatment and support, so there are no surprises later.
What helps to have ready
ADHD is a lifelong pattern, so an assessment looks back as well as at the present. A little preparation makes the process smoother.
- The school's input. A written summary or completed rating scale from a teacher who knows your child well, as above.
- Early history. Memories or notes on how your child was as a younger child, and any early reports, since traits from childhood form part of the picture.
- Your own notes. Jot down the situations where your child struggles most, at home and out and about. It is easy to go blank in the moment.
- Health background. A brief summary of your child's general health, sleep and any current medication is useful context.
None of this needs to be perfect. Come as you are; the assessment is designed to work with whatever you can bring.
Common questions
How do I talk to the school about ADHD?
Start with the class teacher and share what you notice at home, then ask to involve the SENCO. Frame it as comparing notes, not making a case. A short written summary of the school's observations is invaluable for an assessment.
What is a SENCO?
The special educational needs coordinator. Every school has one, and part of their role is to help with conversations like this and to explain what support the school can offer.
How should I explain the assessment to my child?
Keep it simple and free of worry. Explain that everyone's brain works a little differently and you are seeing someone who helps understand how they learn and pay attention. Frame it as getting to know them better, never as something being wrong.
How much does a private ADHD assessment for a child cost?
Our assessment fee is fixed and published in full, with no hidden add-ons. You can see the exact figure in the fees table on this page and on our fees page, and treatment is only ever priced separately and after a diagnosis.
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The Child ADHD Assessment Guide as one ebook. Name and email only.
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