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Assessments for Children

Our in-person or online assessments provide an objective and holistic understanding of your child’s skills so that you can better support your child in achieving their potential and wellbeing. In addition to assessing ability levels we also collect your child’s views, background information from parents/carers and have optional input from the school, all of which provide us  with context to a child’s tests scores and behaviour.

To book an assessment, please call Potential Plus UK’s office on
01908 646433
.

Toddler reading a mobile phone

Early Years Assessment of Potential

For 3 and 4-year-olds we offer the in-person Early Years Assessment of Potential, which tests:

  • Language understanding across different areas of development, providing a composite score for verbal skills
  • Pre-reading or reading skills
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • A sensory processing screener.

Cost

  • Family Plus Members: £495 including VAT
  • Family Essential, Associate Family Members, or Non-members: £625 including VAT
  • Scholarships are available for eligible Family Plus members needing financial assistance

What’s included:

  • An in-person assessment with a trained assessor
  • A follow-up call with the assessor
  • A comprehensive written report containing:
    • Recommendations for parenting highly able children
    • Strategies and resources to support both your child’s strengths and areas which are still developing
    • Guidelines for the nursery/preschool setting.

Read more about our Early Years Assessments

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High Learning Potential Assessment Plus

For 5 to 17-year-olds we offer the in-person High Learning Potential Assessment Plus, which includes the following assessment areas:

  • Cognitive intelligence (IQ)
  • Achievement levels in reading, writing and maths
  • Working memory
  • Processing speed
  • A dyslexia screener
  • A screener for sensory processing differences.

Cost

  • Family Plus Members: £750 including VAT
  • Family Essential, Associate Family Members, or Non-members: £870 including VAT
  • Scholarships are available for eligible Family Plus members needing financial assistance.

What’s included:

  • An in-person assessment with a trained assessor
  • A follow-up call with the assessor
  • A comprehensive written report with strategies and resources for:
    • Parenting highly able children
    • Supporting both your child’s strengths and areas that are still developing (including emotional regulation, behaviour and academics).

Find out more about the High Learning Potential Assessment Plus

boy working on a laptop

High Learning Potential Assessment Essentials

For 7 to 17-year-olds, an alternative to the High Learning Potential Assessment Plus is the (online only) High Learning Potential Assessment Essentials which includes assessments of the following areas:

  • Cognitive intelligence (IQ)
  • Achievement levels in reading and maths
  • Processing speed
  • A screener of sensory processing.

Cost

  • Family Plus Members: £395 including VAT
  • Family Essential, Associate Family Members, or Non-members: £515 including VAT
  • Scholarships are available for eligible Family Plus members needing financial assistance

What’s included:

  • An online assessment with a trained assessor
  • A follow-up call with the assessor
  • A report outlining key areas that need support.

Discover more about the High Learning Potential Assessment Essentials

Ready to Book?

Call Potential Plus UK on 01908 646433 to check availability at our Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire) and Brockworth (Gloucestershire) venues.

Unsure of whether an assessment is right for you? 

Book a call with our Information and Advice Service to get personalised guidance on our assessments and discover the best option for your needs (free to eligible Potential Plus UK members).

Additional Information

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Add-On Reports

Potential Plus UK currently offers several additional reports, available to purchase as add-ons to the High Learning Potential Assessment Essentials and/or High Learning Potential Assessment Plus Services. Some of our screeners are also available as add-ons to the Early Years Assessment of Potential.

  • School Advice Pack
  • In-Depth Sensory Profile
  • Emotional Intelligence Profile
  • Handwriting Profile
  • Acceleration Evaluation Report
  • Screeners for ADHD; Autism; Social and Emotional
Young child holding a pen

The Scholarship Fund

For eligible Family Plus members who may have difficulty covering the full cost of an assessment we offer a subsidised rate through our Scholarship Fund

Potential Plus UK fundraises to support families who struggle to afford to pay for the most appropriate opportunities for their children with high learning potential.  This fund helps to pay for assessments for eligible Family Plus Members who are on a low incomes.

Potential Plus UK assessor Claire at her desk

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact us on amazing.children@potentialplusuk.org or 01908 646433 if you have any questions about your child’s assessment. You will receive more information about the day and venue upon booking. However, also check our FAQs below where some of the more common questions have been answered.

Image: Potential Plus UK Assessor, Claire, at her desk in the Milton Keynes venue.

A: No, not at all! The assessment is more like a series of short activities, many of which feel like games. The tasks are varied, with some involving verbal answers, while others involve pointing or written responses. For academic tasks like reading, writing, and maths, the focus is on a broad range of skills rather than just a couple of concepts. This allows your child to showcase their abilities across different areas. Overall, it is a fun challenge day where your child can stretch their mind and show what they know!

A: Nothing! The assessment looks at what your child already knows and their ability to solve problems. We tell your child that we want to see how they approach both easy and tricky tasks, including things they have never seen before.

A: Each assessment is on a one-to-one basis.

A: Your child will not be left alone. They will work one-to-one with a friendly assessor. For the best results, it is important for your child to work independently, so parents are not allowed in the room during the tasks; however, your child will join you for breaks.

A: Upon arrival, you will be met by the staff or assessor. You will stay in the waiting room while your child completes the assessment with the assessor. There will be a 30-minute lunch break, plus extra breaks as needed. Afterwards, the assessor will provide a brief summary of the initial findings.

A: If you are interested in finding out more about our Milton Keynes or Brockworth (Gloucestershire) venues, please email amazing.children@potentialplusuk.org and we will be happy to send you more information and photographs of the venue to share with your child.

A: Yes! Your child can take as many breaks as they need and can join you in the waiting room during these breaks.

A: Bring any sensory items that your child uses to help them focus, along with snacks, drinks, and something to keep you both occupied during breaks.

A: Yes, our assessors are experienced in working with children.

A: Potential Plus UK assessors are trained in child development, psychology, or teaching and have completed Certified Training as Potential Plus UK assessors (or are indicated to be Trainees and under the supervision of our Assessment Service Manager).

A: Yes. All of our assessors have up-to-date DBS checks, and parents can view the assessment room. We follow all relevant health and safety regulations.

A: Yes, please. The forms help the assessor understand your child’s needs and plan accordingly.

A: This gives a full picture of your child’s behaviour at home and school. Your valuable background information also places your child’s scores into context and ensures that the assessor addresses the areas relevant to supporting your child in your report.

A: It is helpful to know how your child is perceived at school and what support is in place. Involving the school also makes it more likely that they will follow the advice given. This helps the assessor to provide the best recommendations for your child’s needs. However, it is not a problem if you prefer not to involve the school, you can provide an end of year or end of term report.

A: That is okay. The assessor will examine the test scores and all the background information to help uncover why there is a difference and how best to support your child at home and school.

A: No. Our assessors are not qualified to give diagnoses of special needs but they will let you know if they find enough characteristics to request a referral for diagnostic assessments.

A: Absolutely! Your child can use their toy or book during breaks or even keep it nearby during the assessment. If it becomes a distraction, the assessor may remove it temporarily during timed tasks.

A: No, your child will not be told off. Movement needs will be noted and included in the final report, along with recommendations on how to support them.

A: This is not usually an issue since most of the assessment does not involve writing. If needed, the assessor can adapt or skip the spelling or writing tasks. This will be noted in the report.

A: Children with high learning potential usually enjoy the one-to-one attention and the fun challenges during our assessments. Potential Plus UK assessors are skilled at engaging children, and most children find the tasks stimulating. The kinds of challenges we set cover different areas and stretch in line with your child’s abilities, making it more likely that they will enjoy the exact kind of mental challenge that they have been missing.

A: This is rare but if your child refuses or disengages, the assessor will still write the report with the available information. We would discuss the best way forward with you.

Become a Member

Families benefit from access to our advice line, the Members’ Area, our electronic resources, discounted events and our Focus newsletter.

Schools benefit from access to our advice line, online resources, members area, newsletter, workshops, webinars-on-demand, and associate family membership for their parents.