Written by: Sonja Walker, Founder, Kids First Children’s Services
Author byline: Agna Gonsalez
Many parents feel relieved once they finally have their child’s psychological assessment report, but it’s also common to be left with plenty of questions.
“What do these results actually mean?” “Who should I speak to first?” “How do I help my child?” “What happens now?”
If that’s how you’re feeling, you’re not alone. For many families, the assessment isn’t the part that feels overwhelming. It’s working out what to do next.
You don’t need to have everything figured out straight away. Whether the assessment identified ADHD, autism, learning difficulties, anxiety, or another concern, there are practical steps you can take to support your child. Understanding what happens after an assessment can help you feel more confident about the decisions ahead.
Understanding the Assessment Report
Once your child’s assessment is complete, the psychologist will prepare a written report explaining the findings. For many parents, reading the report for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially if it contains unfamiliar terms or clinical language. That’s completely normal.
The report brings together information collected throughout the assessment, including parent interviews, questionnaires, observations, and any standardised testing that was completed. Where appropriate, it may also include a diagnosis and recommendations to support your child at home, at school, and in everyday life.
What Is Included in the Report?
Every assessment is different, but reports commonly include:
- The reason for the assessment and the concerns discussed
- Results from any cognitive or academic testing completed
- Observations about your child’s learning, behaviour, emotions, or development
- Diagnostic conclusions, where appropriate
- Recommendations for home, school, and any further assessments or therapy
You Don’t Need to Understand Everything Straight Away
It’s completely normal to have questions after reading the report. Your psychologist will usually schedule a feedback session to explain the findings, answer your questions, and discuss what the recommendations may mean for your child.
Making the Most of Your Feedback Session
The feedback session gives you an opportunity to discuss the assessment findings in more detail and talk through the recommendations with your psychologist. Many parents find this conversation helpful because it explains how the findings relate to their child’s everyday life and what the next steps may be.
It can be useful to write down any questions before your appointment so you don’t forget them on the day.
Questions About the Assessment Findings
- What do these findings tell us about my child’s learning, behaviour, or development?
- Which recommendations should we focus on first?
- What types of support may be helpful at home and at school?
Questions About the Next Steps
- How should we share the report with our child’s school?
- When should my child’s progress be reviewed?
- Are there any further assessments or services we should consider?
Processing the Assessment Findings
It’s common to experience a mix of emotions after receiving your child’s assessment report. Some parents feel relieved to have answers, while others feel worried, uncertain, or simply need time to process the information. There is no right or wrong way to feel.
Remember that the assessment is designed to help you better understand your child’s needs. The findings can help guide decisions about support at home, at school, and in other settings.
Give Yourself Time
You don’t need to make every decision straight away. Take time to read the report, attend the feedback session, and ask any questions you may have. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can also help to talk with your partner, a trusted family member, friend, or your GP.
Focus on the Next Steps
A diagnosis or assessment finding does not define your child or determine what they can achieve. Instead, it provides information that can help parents, teachers, and other professionals better understand your child’s needs and identify strategies that may be helpful.
Sharing the Assessment Report with Your Child’s School
One of the next steps after an assessment is deciding how the findings will be shared with your child’s school. If your child is experiencing learning, behavioural, or emotional difficulties in the classroom, the report can help teachers and learning support staff better understand their needs.
Schools may use the report to consider appropriate adjustments, learning supports, or wellbeing strategies that help your child participate more successfully at school.
Meeting with the School
It can be helpful to arrange a meeting with your child’s teacher or learning support team to discuss the report and any recommendations. Bringing a copy of the report allows everyone to work from the same information and discuss what supports may be appropriate.
If your child’s assessment identified anxiety or emotional wellbeing concerns, your psychologist may also recommend strategies that can be shared with school staff to support your child consistently across different settings.
Types of Support Schools May Consider
Depending on your child’s needs, schools may consider:
- Individual learning or education plans
- Learning adjustments or classroom accommodations
- Additional time for assessments where appropriate
- Wellbeing or counselling support
- Regular communication between school and home
Accessing Therapy and Ongoing Support
An assessment often includes recommendations for any ongoing support that may benefit your child. These recommendations will depend on your child’s individual needs and may include psychology, occupational therapy, speech pathology, social skills programmes, or other services.
Not every child will need ongoing therapy, and the recommendations will vary from one family to another.
Working with Different Professionals
Some children benefit from support from more than one professional. For example, a child may work with a psychologist while also receiving occupational therapy or speech pathology. When professionals work together and share relevant information, it can help provide more consistent support across different areas of your child’s development.
How Kids First Supports Families
Kids First offers psychology, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and specialist teaching services within the one clinic. Where appropriate, professionals work collaboratively so families can access coordinated support and recommendations tailored to their child’s individual needs.
Understanding NDIS Funding
Some children may be eligible for support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) following a psychological assessment. Eligibility depends on a child’s individual circumstances and whether they meet the NDIS access criteria.
If your child’s assessment identifies a condition that may be eligible, the report can provide important information to support an NDIS access request. Your psychologist can also explain whether additional documentation may be needed.
Applying for the NDIS
If you’re considering an NDIS application, the process generally involves:
- Confirming whether your child may be eligible
- Gathering reports and supporting documentation
- Submitting an NDIS access request
- Working with an Early Childhood Partner or Local Area Coordinator or planner if your application is approved
- Connecting with providers who can deliver your child’s funded supports
Every child’s circumstances are different, so the type and level of support available will vary.
Understanding What the NDIS Covers
The NDIS provides funding for reasonable and necessary supports for eligible participants. Depending on your child’s plan, this may include therapies, early intervention services, or other supports that help them achieve their goals.
If you’re unsure whether your child’s assessment findings may support an NDIS application, your psychologist can discuss the available options and answer any questions about the process.
Medicare and Mental Health Care Plans
Some families are able to access Medicare rebates for ongoing psychology support through a Mental Health Care Plan. A Mental Health Care Plan is arranged through your GP and may provide Medicare rebates for eligible psychology sessions under the Better Access initiative. Eligibility and the number of rebated sessions available can change over time, so it’s important to discuss your family’s circumstances with your GP.
How to Access a Mental Health Care Plan
If your child may benefit from ongoing psychology support, your GP can discuss whether a Mental Health Care Plan is appropriate. If eligible, they can prepare the plan and explain how Medicare rebates apply to psychology services.
Understanding Other Funding Options
Depending on your child’s needs, your family may also be eligible for other funding pathways or rebates. If you’re unsure what support may be available, the Kids First team can discuss the options that may apply to your child and family.
Building a Support Team Around Your Child
Following an assessment, your child may benefit from support from more than one professional. The people involved will depend on your child’s individual needs and the recommendations included in the assessment report.
Working together allows everyone involved in your child’s care to better understand their strengths, areas of difficulty, and the strategies that are being used across different settings.
Who Might Be Involved?
Your child’s support team may include:
- A child psychologist
- An occupational therapist
- A speech pathologist
- Your child’s teacher or learning support staff
- Your GP or paediatrician
Not every child will need support from all of these professionals. The assessment recommendations will help identify which services may be appropriate.
Keeping Everyone Informed
With your permission, sharing relevant information between professionals can help provide more consistent support at home, at school, and during therapy sessions.
Regular communication between families, schools, and treating professionals also helps ensure that recommendations can be reviewed and adjusted as your child’s needs change.
Talking to Your Child About the Assessment Findings
Many parents wonder how much they should tell their child after an assessment. They want to be honest but also worry about saying the wrong thing or causing unnecessary concern.
In most cases, children cope best when information is shared in a way they can understand. Keeping the conversation simple, honest, and reassuring can help your child understand why the assessment happened and what the next steps might be.
Talking to Younger Children (Around 2 to 8 Years)
Young children don’t need a detailed explanation of the assessment findings. Focus on helping them understand that everyone learns and develops differently, and that the assessment helps adults understand how to support them.
You might say something like, “The psychologist helped us learn more about how you learn and what helps you do your best. Now we know some new ways to make things a little easier for you at home and at school.”
Talking to Older Children and Teenagers
Older children and teenagers usually appreciate being included in conversations about their assessment. Explain the findings in language they can understand, encourage them to ask questions, and involve them in decisions where appropriate.
Many young people find it reassuring to understand why they have been finding certain things difficult. Framing the assessment as a way of better understanding their individual needs, rather than focusing on a diagnosis, can help them feel informed and supported.
What If You Have Questions About the Assessment Findings?
It’s not unusual to have questions after reading your child’s assessment report. Sometimes parents are surprised by the findings or feel that parts of the report don’t reflect what they see at home. If this happens, it’s important to discuss your concerns with the psychologist who completed the assessment.
Talk Through the Findings
Your feedback session is the best place to ask questions about the report. If there’s something you don’t understand or a conclusion you’d like explained further, your psychologist can talk you through how the findings were reached and how they relate to your child’s assessment.
Sharing your own observations is also valuable, as they can provide additional context about your child’s experiences at home and in other settings.
Seeking a Second Opinion
If you still have concerns after discussing the report, you may decide to seek a second opinion from another qualified child psychologist. This can help you feel more confident about the assessment findings and any recommendations before making decisions about ongoing support.
Supporting Your Child at Home
Professional support is only one part of helping your child. The routines, communication, and strategies used at home also play an important role in supporting your child’s learning, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing.
Your psychologist may recommend simple strategies that can be incorporated into everyday family life. Small, consistent changes are often easier to maintain than trying to change everything at once.
Practical Strategies at Home
Depending on your child’s needs, helpful strategies may include:
- Keeping daily routines as consistent as possible
- Creating a quiet space for homework or other focused activities
- Using visual schedules or checklists where appropriate
- Practising strategies introduced during therapy at home
- Acknowledging effort and celebrating progress, even when improvements are small
Reviewing Your Child’s Progress
As children grow and their needs change, it’s helpful to review how well current supports are working. Regular discussions with your child’s psychologist, teachers, and other professionals can help identify what is working well and whether any changes to the support plan may be helpful.
Parents also play an important role in these reviews. The observations you make at home provide valuable information that helps professionals understand how your child is progressing across different settings.
How Kids First Supports Families After an Assessment
Support doesn’t end once the assessment is complete. Depending on your child’s needs, the Kids First team can help families understand the recommendations, discuss appropriate next steps, and provide access to a range of services within the clinic where appropriate.
Collaborative Support
Kids First brings together Child Psychologists, Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Specialist Teachers who work collaboratively to support children with a range of learning, developmental, and emotional needs.
Ongoing Guidance for Families
As your child’s needs change over time, the team can continue working with your family to review progress, discuss recommendations, and adjust support where appropriate.
Speak With the Kids First Team
If you’ve recently received your child’s assessment report and you’re unsure what to do next, please feel welcome to reach out to our team.
Many families have questions after an assessment. You might be wondering how to support your child at home, how to share the findings with their school, or whether therapy or other services may be helpful. Whatever stage you’re at, we’re here to help you understand your options and discuss the next steps.
You don’t have to make every decision straight away. Our team is happy to answer your questions, explain the recommendations in your child’s report, and help you decide what support may be most appropriate for your child and family.
Kids First Children’s Services
Level One, 527 Pittwater Road (cnr Pine Ave), Brookvale NSW 2100
Phone: (02) 9938 5419
Email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does it take to receive a child’s psychological assessment report?
The timeline varies depending on the type of assessment and the information that needs to be gathered. Most assessments involve 2 to 4 sessions with the child, along with a parent consultation and teacher questionnaires. Reports are generally available around 3 weeks after testing is completed. If questionnaires are returned later than expected, the overall process may take longer. From the initial enquiry to the feedback session, families can usually expect the process to take around 4 to 8 weeks.
2. Do I need a referral to book a child’s psychological assessment?
No. You don’t need a referral to book a private child psychological assessment at Kids First. Some families are referred by a GP, paediatrician, or another health professional, while others contact the clinic directly because they have concerns about their child’s learning, behaviour, emotions, or development. If you’re unsure which type of assessment may be appropriate, the Kids First team can talk through your concerns and discuss the available options.
3. What is the difference between a child psychological assessment and a developmental paediatric assessment?
A child psychological assessment focuses on understanding how a child learns, thinks, behaves, and manages emotions using interviews, observations, questionnaires, and standardised assessments where appropriate. A developmental paediatric assessment is completed by a specialist paediatrician and considers a child’s medical history, physical development, and overall health alongside developmental concerns. In some situations, both professionals may be involved to provide a more complete understanding of a child’s needs.
4. Can a psychological assessment help with school support?
Yes. Assessment reports can help schools better understand a child’s learning, behavioural, emotional, or developmental needs. Recommendations may support discussions about classroom adjustments, learning support, wellbeing strategies, or other reasonable accommodations where appropriate. Sharing the report with your child’s teacher or learning support team allows everyone to work together using the same information and recommendations.
5. Can assessment findings support an NDIS application?
Depending on your child’s circumstances, a psychological assessment may provide important supporting information for an NDIS access request. The assessment report helps explain your child’s functional needs and may be considered alongside other documentation when eligibility is being assessed. If you have questions about NDIS funding or supporting documents, your psychologist can discuss the process and explain what information may be required.
6. Will my child need therapy after the assessment?
Not every child will require ongoing therapy. The recommendations will depend on the assessment findings and your child’s individual needs. Some children may benefit from psychology sessions, occupational therapy, speech pathology, or school-based supports, while others may only need a few practical strategies at home or in the classroom. Your psychologist will explain the recommendations during the feedback session and discuss appropriate next steps with you.
7. How should I explain the assessment findings to my child?
The conversation should be guided by your child’s age, maturity, and understanding. Younger children usually benefit from simple, reassuring explanations, while older children and teenagers often appreciate being included in conversations about the findings. Focusing on how the assessment helps adults better understand and support them can make the discussion feel more positive and less intimidating.
8. What if I don’t agree with the assessment findings?
If you have questions or concerns about the report, the first step is to discuss them with the psychologist who completed the assessment. They can explain how the conclusions were reached and answer any questions you may have. If you still feel uncertain after that conversation, seeking a second opinion from another qualified child psychologist is a reasonable option and can help you feel more confident about the recommendations.
9. How often should my child’s progress be reviewed?
Children’s needs can change as they grow, so it’s helpful to review progress from time to time. Your psychologist may recommend follow-up appointments to discuss how your child is responding to support at home, at school, or during therapy. Regular communication between parents, teachers, and treating professionals also helps ensure that strategies continue to meet your child’s changing needs.
10. What happens after the feedback session?
After the feedback session, families can begin putting the recommendations into practice at home and, where appropriate, share the report with their child’s school or other professionals involved in their care. Depending on the assessment findings, next steps may include psychology support, occupational therapy, speech pathology, school-based adjustments, or discussions about funding pathways. Your psychologist can help you prioritise the recommendations and decide which steps are most appropriate for your child and family.
