• This is evident when accurate and fluent word reading and/or spelling develops very incompletely or with great difficulty.

• A psychological assessment is the best way of determining whether this is present.  This assessment would help to determine what supports and concessions (e.g. extra time in exams, scribe) might be appropriate.

• This is when a child's learning is significantly behind that of their peers.

• It is usually relevant to assess the degree of difficulties and possible contributory factors with a view to considering how learning may be improved or supported.

• While specific language impairments are diverse, usually children experience such a difficulty despite the fact that their development appears to be essentially normal in other respects.

• Formal intellectual assessment is relevant in verifying this profile and drawing up interventions.  This usually would occur in collaboration with a speech and language therapist.

• Children who have autism have difficulties in three main areas: social interaction, all aspects of communication (verbal & non-verbal); and flexibility of thought and imagination.

• Assessment is important not only in clarifying these characteristic features but also in identifying learning potential.

• This generally is regarded as a form of autism with difficulties in the same three areas as autism.  In general, children with Asperger syndrome have intellectual development in the average range and do not have early language delay.

• Assessment is important in planning educational and social interventions.

• This is a disorder in which the child has problems with the smooth programming of motor movements.

• Such children usually require assessment by a paediatrician, an educational psychologist, an occupational therapist and a speech and language therapist in order to evolve an appropriate plan for intervention.

• Children with such difficulties usually have the following features: inattention; excessive activity; and impulsivity.

• Assessment by a range of professionals is desirable.  As there are often other problems such as learning difficulties, assessment by an educational psychologist is important. 

• This occurs in children with outstanding talent to perform, or the potential to perform, at remarkably high levels when compared with others of their age and experience or environment.

• Assessment by a psychologist would be necessary to verify such a profile and recommend appropriate intervention.

• An early placement request is when a parent wishes to place their child in statutory education before the child has reached the official school entry age.

• Assessment is required as there is a need to present evidence of the child's intellectual, social and emotional readiness to cope with formal education in a classroom setting.

• If children are reacting to changes or different events in their life they may show behavioural symptoms.  Such  behaviours might include difficulties such as becoming withdrawn, eating difficulties, showing bad behaviour or acting out.

• In order to try to clarify what some of the underlying factors may be and how improvement can be encouraged, it can be helpful to involve a psychologist in the assessment and possible intervention plan.