Illustrative example · not a real person
A parent of a child aged 8 to 10: after school raised concerns
A parent whose child’s teacher had noticed playtimes and changes to routine were hard.
Autism assessment · children and teenagers
Private autism assessment for children and teenagers
helping you understand your child
Oakwell’s autism assessment for children and teenagers is for ages 6 to 17. You give the developmental history (ADI-R), school completes a short questionnaire, and your child takes part in a structured observation session using the ADOS-2, usually by secure video or face to face at home. It costs £1,999, with no VAT payable, and no referral is needed.
Who this page is for: parents and carers of children and teenagers aged 6 to 17.
What do parents often notice?
Every autistic child is different, and being autistic isn’t something to fix. These are some of the differences the NHS describes in older children, and they’re often what leads a family to ask about an assessment:
- finding it hard to understand what other people mean, such as taking things literally
- needing to follow rules, and getting upset when rules aren’t followed
- finding it difficult to adjust to changes in routine and activities
- having few close friends and spending more time alone
- having an advanced vocabulary and speaking in a formal way
Some children mask their differences at school, which can make them harder to see there than at home. The NHS notes that autistic girls may be more likely to mask, though boys can mask too.
You don’t need to be sure it’s autism. The initial consultation is there to work out, with you, whether an assessment is the right next step for your child.
What’s included in your child’s assessment?
Everything below is included in the £1,999 fee, whatever the outcome.
- Initial consultation
- Questionnaire pack, including a school questionnaire for children
- Developmental history session (ADI-R), up to 2 hours
- Structured observation session using the ADOS-2, around 45 minutes to an hour
- Multidisciplinary team review: the whole team reviews each case together
- Feedback appointment
- Comprehensive written report, usually within 4 weeks of the feedback appointment
- A follow-up call (30 to 45 minutes, video or phone) within 6 weeks of your report
- Report amendments and extra letters
- Signposting to local support, whatever the outcome
See the full fee breakdown and payment terms, or what happens at each of the ten steps.
Who will assess your child?
Hans Naicker, our Clinical Lead and an NMC-registered mental health nurse, works with an HCPC-registered clinical psychologist and an HCPC-registered speech and language therapist. The whole team reviews each case together; the clinician who led the assessment signs the report. CHECK: can Hans sign a child’s report, or is it always the psychologist or paediatrician? (D2.8)
All clinicians hold enhanced DBS checks. For under-16s, a parent or carer is present at home visits; 16 and 17-year-olds are offered the choice. Hans is our safeguarding lead.
How is school involved?
A short questionnaire goes to your child’s school, for the SENCO, class teacher or teaching assistant. It helps the team understand how your child is at school as well as at home, because children can be very different in each. CHECK: who sends the school questionnaire, and how parental consent is recorded (D2.4)
If a session at home isn’t possible, it can be arranged at school instead. If you already have school reports or a support plan, you can share them with us. CHECK: what families should have ready (§21a)
SENCOs and other school staff can read what Oakwell offers schools and referrers.
How do we help your child take part?
A structured observation session using the ADOS-2, usually by secure video, or face to face at home where that suits your child better. We choose the approach with you, so your child can take part as comfortably as possible. The activities and conversation are matched to your child’s age and language, and there are no right or wrong answers.
For a video session, a quiet room and a laptop or tablet are enough. We adjust the pace, offer breaks, and plan around anything that helps your child feel settled, such as a favourite toy or a familiar adult nearby. CHECK: preparation advice with Hans (§21a)
Our guide explains how to prepare your child for the observation session.
Can the report help with school support or an EHCP?
The report is written to be shared with your child’s school, GP and, if relevant, the local authority as part of an EHCP needs assessment. Each organisation decides how it uses private reports.
You don’t need a diagnosis to ask your local authority for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment. Your local SENDIASS, a free and impartial advice service, can explain how to ask and what happens next.
Read what schools, the NHS and councils say about private reports, or find your SENDIASS and Local Offer on our local support pages.
How are results explained to your child?
At the feedback appointment, we explain what we found in plain language, including your child’s strengths as well as any challenges. We can talk with you about how and when to share the outcome with your child, in words that fit their age. CHECK: how Hans explains the outcome to a child, and whether he can join that conversation (§6.2)
The follow-up call within 6 weeks of the report is a chance to ask anything that has come up since.
What if the outcome isn’t autism?
An assessment is never a dead end. You’ll get clear, honest feedback about what we found, with recommendations and signposting to the support most likely to help your child next.
For a teenager aged 16 or 17, that might include our mental health assessment and triage or the Goal Coaching Mentorship Programme. It might also be an assessment with another provider, for example for ADHD, which Oakwell doesn’t assess.
How does this compare with the NHS route?
Your GP can tell you how to get an NHS autism assessment in your area. The NHS says that in some areas your child’s school may need to make the referral. Waiting times vary from area to area. Oakwell is a private, self-funded service: you can contact us directly, and you can still ask about NHS options at the same time.
How a private assessment fits with your local NHS pathway depends on where you live, so it’s worth asking your GP. Our area pages say what each local area publishes.
What can it look like for a family?
Questions parents ask
How old does my child need to be for an autism assessment?
Six or over. Our autism assessment is for children aged 6 and over, teenagers and adults. If your child is younger, your GP or health visitor can talk to you about an NHS assessment. Our mental health assessment is for ages 16 and over, and the Goal Coaching Mentorship Programme is for 16 to 21-year-olds.
What if my child won’t engage on screen?
That’s fine, and it’s something we plan for. We adjust the pace, offer breaks and fit the session around your child. If video doesn’t suit them, the observation session can be face to face at home, or arranged at school if home isn’t possible. Tell us what helps your child feel settled, and we’ll build it in.
Can school be involved, or the assessment take place at school?
Yes. For children, a short questionnaire goes to school, for the SENCO, class teacher or teaching assistant, so we understand how your child is at school as well as at home. If a session at home isn’t possible, it can be arranged at school instead. CHECK: who sends the school questionnaire, and how parental consent is recorded (D2.4)
Will school, the NHS or the council accept a private report?
Each organisation decides how it uses a private report, so we can’t promise how yours will be used. The report is written to be shared with your child’s school, GP and, if relevant, the local authority as part of an EHCP needs assessment. Our guide explains what schools, the NHS and local authorities say about private assessments, including Buckinghamshire’s published position.
Does my child need a diagnosis to ask for an EHC needs assessment?
No. You can ask your local authority for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment without a diagnosis. What matters is whether your child has or may have special educational needs, and may need support through an EHC plan. Your local SENDIASS and the charity IPSEA explain how to ask. Our guide covers how a private report fits in.
How do I talk to my child about their assessment?
In a way that fits their age and how they like to take in information. At the feedback appointment, we can talk with you about how to explain the outcome to your child, starting with their strengths. The National Autistic Society also has practical guidance for parents. CHECK: how Hans explains the outcome to a child, and whether he can join that conversation (§6.2)
Guides for parents
Areas we cover
Autism assessments are online; home visits are for the mental health assessment, across these areas and surrounding areas.
Wondering about your child? Talk it through with us.
No referral needed. Prefer not to phone? Email or use the form. That’s completely fine.