If you are concerned that there is something impacting your child’s ability to learn, they may benefit from a Cognitive Skills Assessment.
Cognitive Skills Assessment
What is a Cognitive Skills Assessment?
This is an assessment of thinking skills to identify how children learn. It can also identify what might be getting in the way of learning. The assessment is carried out by a team of educational, clinical and neuropsychologists. Dyslexia, dyscalculia, and processing or memory problems, as well as other learning disabilities, are all tested for using the Cognitive Skills Assessment.
How will it help my child?
The assessment is used to identify areas in which your child could benefit from support in an educational or home setting. The psychologist may select additional tests based on specific areas of concern. A report of the assessment is provided which includes recommendations that are tailored to the child or young person’s specific needs.
How does it work? (triage/assessment etc.)
To arrange an assessment, please fill out the ‘make an enquiry’ form on this page. You will then be contacted to arrange a telephone consultation with one of our clinicians, where you can provide a more detailed picture and arrange a meeting. Parents and teachers may be asked to fill out a questionnaire prior to the assessment.
How much will it cost?
A sliding scale operates which reflects the nature and duration of the assessment required.
Make an Enquiry
Complete our short enquiry form and one of our staff will get back to you as soon as possible
Our Specialists
Dr Ruth Erskine
Ruth Erskine is Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Paediatric Neuropsychologist with expertise in assessment and intervention for children, young people and their families.
Dr Erskine initially trained in social work, then systemic family therapy and worked for a number of years in community and national specialist child and adolescent mental health services. Dr Erskine subsequently undertook doctoral and post doctoral training in clinical psychology and neuropsychology, specialising in paediatric health and neurodisability. Dr Erskine worked as a paediatric clinical psychologist at University College Hospital prior to taking up Consultant Clinical Psychology posts in paediatrics and in neurodisability at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital and at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.
Her publications include research on adolescent adjustment to illness, neuropsychology assessments, race and culture. She is an applied psychology and systemic practice supervisor with a national and international teaching portfolio.
Dr Rosa Matthews
I am committed to promoting children’s development and learning, as well as their social and emotional wellbeing using my core training in mental health and my specialist training in child neuropsychology.
As a child neuropsychologist I am able to provide a detailed profile of a young person’s/child’s strengths and areas of difficulty across a broad range of functioning: cognitive (including memory attention and aspects of language), social communication and everyday living skills as well as mental health. From this profile I put together a comprehensive and practical package of care to improve outcomes for that child. I work with parents, schools/education and others from the medical and allied professions.
I endeavour to support parents/carers from the initial query or concerns about a child, to getting the various professionals needed to complete the work and, as needed, periodically reviewing progress to keep things on track. I place great importance post-assessment on working jointly with other professionals and providing good support for parents/carers.
After 8 years working as an economist for the Bank of England and investment banks, I switched to clinical work and research in mental health in 2000 working at UCL, before formally retraining as a clinical psychologist. On qualifying as a clinical psychologist, I worked in the west of England, before relocating to London to commence my paediatric neuropsychology studies. After undertaking nine years of clinical practice (including Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Portland Hospital) and further training (UCL) I qualified as a child neuropsychologist. I currently practice independently and within the NHS providing neurodevelopmental assessment, including assessment for autism spectrum disorder. In my NHS post I provide consultation and training to professionals working in a child and adolescent mental health service.
Beverly Sokel
Beverly Sokel is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with special interests in paediatric psychology and child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing.
She offers therapy services for a wide range of psychological problems including anxiety and panic attacks, fears and phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, tic disorders, hair pulling and skin picking, sleeping, feeding and toileting difficulties, behavioural difficulties, emotional problems, relationships difficulties within families and bereavement as well as problems relating to health issues such as needle phobia and pain and symptom management. Her work with children, young people, parents and carers draws upon different therapeutic approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), behaviour therapy, sessions for families and for parents, relaxation and breathing techniques, guided imagery and mindfulness.
She works in private practice, having previously worked for many years as a clinical psychologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital and in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Hertfordshire.
She is able to offer remote consultations and sessions at the present time. She is also able to offer cognitive psychological assessments for school age children and adolescents.
Dr Sue Harrison
Dr Sue Harrison is a Consultant Child Psychologist, qualified both as a Chartered Educational Psychologist and a Paediatric Neuropsychologist. She has been working with children and young people for 20 years.
She is very experienced in conducting psychometric assessments, characterising children’s learning profiles and making recommendations to support optimal development and academic progress. An assessment can highlight strengths and specific or subtle areas of need, and explore issues such as intellectual potential, dyslexia, dyspraxia, attention, memory, processing or language problems.
She has studied and undertaken specialist training at University College London, the Institute of Education and the Institute of Child Health.
She currently works in private practice and also at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. She has worked at Great Ormond Street for over 10 years, specialising in children’s learning and memory and in the needs of young people with neurological conditions such as epilepsy. She has trained and worked as a school teacher and has completed a research doctorate in children’s learning, memory and academic achievement.
She currently examines and lectures on two Masters courses at University College London, in the areas of infancy, child assessment, and learning difficulties.