Autism identified
You receive a formal diagnosis, a full explanation of your child's profile, and recommendations for home and education, plus routes into post-diagnostic support.
Assessment
Autism Assessment for Children & Young People
A thorough, unhurried autism assessment for your child that looks at their whole life, at home, at school and everywhere in between, not a checklist of behaviours observed in one room on one day.
Overview
Who this is for
- Children and young people aged 4-17
- Children who mask well at school and unravel at home
- Children whose differences were picked up by a teacher, SENCO or GP
- Families who already have a diagnosed relative and recognise the pattern
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.
- Social situations take noticeably more effort for your child than they seem to for peers
- Sensory environments, noise, light, texture, smell, regularly affect how their day goes
- Routine, predictability and clear expectations make a real difference to their wellbeing
- Deep, sustained interests are a major source of energy and focus
- Meltdowns, shutdowns or exhaustion follow the school day or busy social periods
- Existing support has helped a little, but nobody has explained the underlying pattern
In short
What is a child autism assessment?
A child autism assessment is a structured clinical process that explores how your child communicates, relates to others, experiences sensory information and responds to change, across their whole life. It is not a single test. Our pathway has five clear stages, shown in the timeline below: pre-assessment forms for you and your child's school, an ADOS-2 observation at our clinic or in school, an ADI-R clinical history taken online, a multidisciplinary team review and feedback session, and a written report within four to six weeks of feedback. Clinicians compare the combined picture against internationally agreed diagnostic criteria (DSM-5-TR or ICD-11). The outcome is either a diagnosis of autism, a clear explanation of why criteria are not met, or a description of another profile that fits better, always with practical recommendations for home and school.
What information is gathered
- Enrolment and pre-assessment forms completed by parents or carers
- Pre-assessment form from the school or education setting, or from tutors and coaches if your child is not in education
- ADOS-2 direct observation, either at The Chill Out Centre or within the school or education setting
- ADI-R full developmental and clinical history in a three to four hour online consultation
- Full developmental history, from pregnancy and early years to the present day
- Standardised questionnaires completed by you and, with consent, people who know your child well
- School reports, previous professional letters and any earlier assessments
- Sensory profile and daily living information
- Your child's own account, where they are able to share it, of what is hard, what helps and what they want to understand
How decisions are made
All evidence is brought to a multidisciplinary clinical review where at least two clinicians from different professional backgrounds consider it against DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria and NICE guidance. No single clinician makes a diagnostic decision alone. Where the picture is complex or evidence is incomplete, we say so plainly rather than forcing a conclusion.
What you can expect
- Sensory-adjusted rooms, breaks whenever your child needs them and no fluorescent waiting-room limbo
- Findings shared verbally at the feedback appointment before the written report
- A report typically 20-30 pages, written to be read by you, your GP and your child's school
The process
Your assessment journey
5 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 exactly which areas did and did not meet threshold, what else may explain your child's experience, and where to go next. This is never a dead end.
A different or additional profile
Sometimes ADHD, a language difference, trauma, or a sensory profile explains more of the picture. We describe what we found and recommend the right next assessment.
Further information needed
Occasionally we recommend an extra strand, such as speech and language or cognitive assessment, before finalising. We will always tell you the cost and reason first.
Answers
Autism 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 autism assessment take?
From initial consultation to written report, most pathways complete in six to ten weeks. The report is sent within four to six weeks of the feedback session. Complex presentations, or those needing an additional speech and language or cognitive strand, can take longer, and we tell you at consultation if we expect that.
Where does the ADOS-2 observation happen?
Either at The Chill Out Centre, our sensory-adjusted clinic space in Essex, or within your child's school or education setting. We agree the setting with you based on where your child is most comfortable and where we will see the most typical picture.
What if my child is not in education?
That is fine. In place of a school pre-assessment form, we ask tutors, sports coaches or other adults who know your child well to offer insights into the assessment process.
Is your diagnosis recognised by the NHS and schools?
Our assessments follow NICE guidance and are carried out by clinicians registered with the HCPC, GMC or equivalent, so reports are widely accepted by schools, universities, employers and local authorities. Individual NHS trusts set their own policies for shared care, and some may wish to review a private report before accepting it, we provide everything needed for that review.
What is masking, and how do you account for it?
Masking is the conscious or unconscious suppression of natural responses in order to appear to fit in. It is more common in girls, and it is the single biggest reason autistic children are missed, particularly the child who is 'fine at school' and falls apart at home. We ask specifically about internal experience and the cost of coping, not just observable behaviour, and we weight home evidence accordingly.
Do I need a GP referral?
We ask for a referral from a GP, another health professional or a SENCO. If a GP referral letter cannot be obtained, we ask for a copy of your GP Summary, which can be sourced from your receptionist GP service. With your consent we write to your GP after the assessment so your child's records are complete.
What if my child refuses to take part?
That happens, and it is workable. We can adapt to observation-led and history-led approaches, offer home or school-based sessions, extend the number of shorter appointments, or build rapport over time. We will never force a child to participate.
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: description of need, impact on access to education, and recommended provision. The statutory decision remains with the local authority.
Can you assess autism and ADHD at the same time?
Yes, and it is often the wiser route. Around one in three autistic children also meet criteria for ADHD, and assessing separately risks each explaining away the other. See our combined assessment pathway.
How much does a child autism assessment cost?
The child autism assessment is £2,250. Pathway pricing is fixed and confirmed in writing before you commit, so there are no add-ons partway through. Ask us about payment plan options.
Who acts as the informant for my child?
For children, the informant is usually a parent or primary carer, someone who has known your child since birth or early childhood and can speak in detail about their early development, first words, play, social responses, routines and sensory reactions. Where possible we value input from two people who know your child well, for example both parents, or a parent and a grandparent, because different people notice different things.
What if my child has no suitable informant?
If a child has been in care, has changed carers, or nobody who knew them in their early years is available, tell us before booking. In some circumstances we can use alternatives, such as early health visitor records, nursery reports or another adult involved at the time, but where we cannot gather reliable developmental history at all, we may not be able to proceed. We will always talk the options through with you honestly first.
What will the informant be asked about?
The ADI-R history covers pregnancy and birth, early milestones, language development, play and imagination, social approaches and friendships, repetitive behaviours and interests, sensory responses and significant life events. It takes three to four hours online, and we encourage informants to answer from what they genuinely remember rather than what feels 'right'. There is no preparation needed beyond honest recollection.
Is the informant's information kept private?
Yes. Informant information is used only to inform your child's assessment, is stored securely on encrypted, access-controlled systems in line with UK GDPR, and is seen only by the clinicians involved. During the multidisciplinary team review, informant information is discussed among the assessing clinicians to reach a decision; it is never shared outside the team, and it is not passed to schools, GPs or anyone else without your explicit consent.
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.