Preparing for your visit

What to expect

We want every family to feel well prepared before attending Heartlands. Below is a guide to what a typical assessment day looks like, depending on the age of the person being assessed.

Children & Young People

Typically primary school age up to early secondary school

  • 1
    Parent consultation
    The session begins with a consultation with parents or guardians. Niall will discuss your child's developmental history, school experience, and any concerns you have. Your child may be present or play nearby during this time.
    Approximately 30 minutes
  • 2
    Cognitive Assessment
    Your child will work one-to-one with Niall on a range of tasks that assess different aspects of thinking and reasoning. These tasks are varied and designed to feel like puzzles rather than tests. We use the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC).
    Approximately 1 hour
  • 3
    Break
    10 minutes
  • 4
    Literacy and Numeracy Assessment
    The second part of the assessment looks at your child's literacy and numeracy skills using the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT). This helps identify specific areas of strength and difficulty in reading, writing, spelling, and maths.
    Approximately 1 hour
  • 5
    Feedback
    At the end of the session, Niall will share initial feedback with parents. A full written report with detailed findings and recommendations will follow within the agreed timeframe.
    30-45 minutes

Adolescents & Young Adults

Typically older secondary school students and those in further education

  • 1
    Joint consultation, young person and parents together
    For older students, the consultation typically takes place with both the young person and their parents or guardians together. Niall will explore educational history, current challenges, and the young person's own perspective on their learning.
    Approximately 30 minutes
  • 2
    Cognitive Assessment
    The young person completes the cognitive ability assessment one-to-one with Niall, using the same WISC tasks adapted for older age groups.
    Approximately 1 hour
  • 3
    Break
    10 minutes
  • 4
    Literacy and Numeracy Assessment
    Academic attainment is assessed using the WIAT, exploring literacy and numeracy skills in the context of the young person's school and learning demands.
    Approximately 1 hour
  • 5
    Joint feedback
    Feedback is shared with the young person and their parents together, so everyone leaves with a shared understanding. A full written report follows.
    30-45 minutes

All assessments come with a full written report. This is sent to you within the agreed timeframe following the session and includes a clear explanation of findings, a formulation, and detailed recommendations for home, school, and any other relevant settings. We are also happy to speak with schools or other professionals once the report has been shared with you.

Adult assessment process → Book your assessment