ADHD identified
You receive the diagnosis and presentation type, an explanation of your child's profile, and recommendations for home and school, plus routes into post-diagnostic support.
Assessment
ADHD Assessment for Children & Young People
An ADHD assessment that takes your child's attention, energy, impulsivity and emotional regulation seriously, with a school observation as standard and every stage explained before it happens.
Overview
Who this is for
- Children and young people aged 4-17 whose focus, energy or emotional regulation affects daily life
- Pupils described as bright but inconsistent, whose output does not match their ability
- Children whose difficulties are visible at home but hidden, or masked, at school
- Families waiting on long NHS pathways who need answers sooner
Why someone might seek this
None of the following confirms anything on its own. They are simply the experiences people most often describe when they contact us.
- Starting tasks feels disproportionately hard for your child, even ones they care about
- Attention is either absent or total, with little in between
- Time, homework and instructions are consistently hard to hold on to
- Emotional responses arrive fast and strongly, then pass
- Organisation systems work brilliantly for two weeks and then collapse
- School and home describe two very different children
In short
What does a child ADHD assessment involve?
A child ADHD assessment is a clinical process that determines whether your child's difficulties with attention, activity level, impulsivity and self-regulation are best explained by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Our pathway has six clear stages, shown in the timeline below: referral, enrolment and pre-assessment forms; a clinical team review of those forms; a school or education observation coordinated by us; an online clinical assessment session lasting one to two hours; a multidisciplinary team review and feedback appointment; and a written report. A school observation is included as standard because behaviour at school and at home can differ significantly, and diagnostic criteria require evidence across more than one setting. Where a school does not allow professionals to attend, we gather the same information through a phone call and questionnaire with a member of education staff instead. Clinicians compare the combined picture against DSM-5-TR criteria and NICE guideline NG87, and the outcome specifies the presentation, predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, or combined, with practical recommendations for home and school.
What information is gathered
- Referral, enrolment and pre-assessment forms completed by parents or carers
- A school or education setting observation, coordinated directly by our team
- Where school attendance is not possible, a phone call and questionnaire with a member of education staff
- An online clinical assessment session of one to two hours
- Childhood and developmental evidence, including school reports and parental recall
- Standardised rating scales from you and the education setting
- Screening for co-occurring autism, learning differences, sleep and mood difficulties
- Physical health and medication history, including blood pressure and cardiac history where medication may be considered
How decisions are made
Your forms are reviewed by the clinical team before anything is booked, and where mental health needs are present we may ask for further information or encourage a full mental health assessment first, so the ADHD picture is not clouded. All findings are then reviewed by at least two clinicians from different professional backgrounds in a multidisciplinary review, using the forms, the school evidence and the clinical session together against DSM-5-TR criteria and NICE guideline NG87. No single clinician makes a diagnostic decision alone.
What you can expect
- A school observation arranged by us as standard, you do not have to chase it
- A structured but conversational online session, not an interrogation
- Written summaries after each stage so nothing depends on your memory of the meeting
- Frank discussion of medication, including the reasons a family might choose not to take that route
The process
Your assessment journey
8 clear stages, each explained before it happens. You will never wonder what the next contact is about.
Outcomes
Outcomes and next steps
Criteria not met
We explain what did not meet threshold and what better explains your child's experience, often sleep, anxiety, trauma or an unassessed autistic profile.
ADHD plus a co-occurring profile
Very common. We describe how the profiles interact, which is usually the part that finally makes sense of contradictory experiences.
Mental health considerations first
Where the forms or the clinical picture show mental health needs that would affect the assessment, we say so plainly and discuss a full mental health assessment with you before proceeding.
Medication
Medication and next steps
We do not prescribe medication. Our role is a thorough diagnostic assessment and a detailed report. If ADHD is identified, we will refer you to ADHD Plus, our trusted partner, who offer comprehensive ADHD assessments in the UK. With your consent, we share your report and contact details with ADHD Plus so they can contact you directly. We cannot guarantee their timescales, so we encourage you to call ADHD Plus after two weeks if you have not heard from them.
Go to ADHD PlusWhat to say when you contact ADHD Plus
Use this short script if you have not heard from ADHD Plus within two weeks of your referral:
- Hello, my name is [your name].
- I was referred to ADHD Plus by Sensational Minds after an ADHD assessment.
- My report and contact details were shared with your team with my consent.
- I have not heard from you yet and wanted to check the next steps.
- Could you let me know what will happen next, or when I might expect to hear from a clinician?
What we share with ADHD Plus and how we ask for consent
We will only share the minimum information needed for ADHD Plus to continue your care. You are in control and can decline.
What we share
- Your completed Sensational Minds ADHD assessment report.
- Your full name, phone number and email address so they can contact you.
- A brief clinical summary of the ADHD findings relevant to medication review.
What we do not share
- Raw session recordings or transcripts.
- Information that is not relevant to your ADHD medication enquiry, such as unrelated family details.
- Any information if you do not give consent.
How we ask for consent
- 1During or after your feedback session we will explain why a referral to ADHD Plus may help.
- 2We will send you a consent form or ask you to confirm consent in writing.
- 3You can ask questions, take time to decide, or decline without affecting your assessment report.
- 4Once you consent, we securely send the information and confirm by email that the referral has been made.
Answers
ADHD Assessment for Children & Young People: your questions answered
Written to be genuinely useful, and short enough to read at the end of a long day.
How long does a child ADHD assessment take?
Most families complete the pathway in four to eight weeks. The online clinical session lasts between one and two hours, preceded by forms and the school observation, and followed by an MDT review, a feedback appointment and a written report.
Does my child have to be in the session?
Yes, but only for the beginning. Your child needs to be present for the start of the online clinical session so the clinician can meet and observe them; afterwards, you speak openly with the clinician without your child present.
Whose consent do you need?
Parental consent from one parent is sufficient for the assessment to proceed. Where a young person is old enough to understand the assessment and its implications, we also apply Gillick competence, considering their own views and agreement alongside parental consent.
What is Gillick competence?
Gillick competence is the legal principle used to decide whether a young person under sixteen has enough maturity and understanding to make decisions about their own assessment and care. Where a young person is Gillick competent, we take their wishes seriously, including how they want information shared, and we explain everything directly to them as well as to you.
Why is a school observation included as standard?
Diagnostic criteria require evidence of difficulties in more than one setting, and many children hold everything together at school and unravel at home, or the reverse. We coordinate the observation directly with the school or education setting, so you do not have to arrange it. If a setting does not allow professionals to attend, we gather the same information through a phone call and questionnaire with a member of education staff instead.
What happens if my child's school will not allow a visit?
That happens and it is workable. We arrange a structured phone call with a teacher, SENCO or other member of education staff, together with a detailed questionnaire about your child's presentation in the setting. This still gives us the cross-setting evidence the assessment needs.
What if the forms show mental health needs?
Where the pre-assessment forms show mental health needs, we may ask for further information or encourage a full mental health assessment first. Anxiety, depression and trauma can all affect attention, and assessing ADHD without addressing that picture first risks an unclear or inaccurate answer. We will always explain the reason and the options before changing course.
Do you prescribe ADHD medication?
We do not prescribe. Our role is a thorough, NICE-compliant diagnostic assessment and a detailed report, which you can take to your GP if you want to explore medication. Medication is only ever one option alongside strategies, coaching and environmental change.
What happens after the assessment if ADHD is identified?
You receive a full written report and a feedback session is offered. If you want to explore ADHD medication, we will refer you to ADHD Plus, our trusted partner, who offer comprehensive ADHD assessments in the UK. With your consent, we share your report and contact details with ADHD Plus so they can contact you directly about their next steps.
How do medication discussions work with ADHD Plus?
ADHD Plus work independently of Sensational Minds. Once we refer you and share your report and contact details with your consent, their clinicians review the information and contact you directly. They will explain their process, fees and any further appointments needed. We cannot guarantee their timescales, so we encourage you to call ADHD Plus after two weeks if you have not heard from them.
Is medication the only option after an ADHD diagnosis?
No. Medication is one option, but many people manage well with strategies, coaching, environmental adjustments, sleep improvements and workplace or school support. We discuss all of these in your report and feedback session, whether or not you choose to be referred to ADHD Plus.
Will ADHD Plus definitely prescribe medication?
Not necessarily. Prescribing decisions depend on a full clinical review by ADHD Plus, including your physical health history, current symptoms and whether medication is safe and appropriate. They may recommend further assessment, monitoring or non-medication approaches first.
Can the report be used to apply for an EHCP?
Yes. Reports include the specific, quantified language local authorities look for when considering an Education, Health and Care needs assessment. The statutory decision remains with the local authority.
Can autism be assessed at the same time?
Yes, and it is often the right choice. The two frequently co-occur and each can mask the other. Our combined pathway assesses both in one coordinated process.
How much does a child ADHD assessment cost?
The child ADHD assessment is £1,550, confirmed in writing before you commit, with the school observation included as standard. Ask us about payment plan options.
What does my child need for the online session?
A parent or carer must be present in the background throughout the online session. You will also need a piece of paper and a pencil, plus a quiet, private space with a reliable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone.
What people say
"Receiving our son's autism diagnosis has made such a positive difference. It has given us a much deeper understanding of him, the way he experiences the world and why certain things can be challenging for him. Instead of feeling unsure or worried, we now feel empowered to support him in the right ways so he can thrive and be fully understood. What also meant so much to us was that the care didn't stop once the diagnosis was given."
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Book a no-obligation consultation, or send us a question and we will reply within one working day.