What we need before booking a child’s assessment

Summary: Before we can book an assessment, you'll need to get set up with us, complete some pre–assessment questionnaires, and send us information from your child’s school or from someone who knows them well. Some of these steps depend on whether your child's being assessed for ADHD, autism, or both. 

• What we’ll need from you

• Step one: Request your child’s Summary Care Record

• Step two: Set up your account with us

• Step three: Complete the pre–assessment questionnaires What happens next 

Thanks for choosing us for an ADHD or autism assessment – we're glad to be part of this journey with you, and we'll do everything we can to offer support along the way. 

Once you've registered for an assessment – either privately or through NHS Right to Choose – we’ll need you to: 

• Set up an account with us to manage your child’s care

• Complete some pre–assessment questionnaires

• Send us information from your child’s school – or if they’re not currently attending school then someone outside of their family.

• Share any professional guidance or an outcome report if your child’s already been assessed somewhere else. This may include reports for physical or mental health needs. 

Once you’ve completed these steps, we can get the appointment booked in. Please see our articles on what to expect during the assessment and current waiting times for more detail. 

To kick things off, we’ll need you to request your child’s Summary Care Record (SCR) from their GP. Their SCR is an electronic record of their essential medical information, which their GP has access to. We need this: 

• For the assessment. Our clinicians use it to rule out other conditions that could explain your child's symptoms – without it, we may not be able to reach a diagnosis. 

• For medication and treatment. If your child has already been diagnosed and medication looks like a good option, we can't prescribe without their SCR – we need to know their full medical history to make sure it's safe to do so. 

You can use this template to request it by email: 

Hi [GP Practice Reception Team], 

I hope you're well. I'd like to request a copy of the Summary Care Record (SCR) for [child's name], who I'm a parent/carer to. Please let me know the best way to receive it – if you could email me a copy, that would be great. 

Many thanks, 
[Your name] 

As your child's parent or carer, you're legally entitled to request this from the GP (it's called a 'subject access request') – most GPs get it to you within a day or two, even though they technically have up to a month. 

One thing to flag: we can't accept a screenshot from the NHS app for this – it needs to come directly from the GP surgery. 

Once we've processed your child’s referral (or your payment, if you're coming to us privately), you'll get a welcome message inviting you to set up your account with us – by email or text. If it's by text, it'll come from 07860 039092. 

To do this: 

• Click the link in your invitation and log in 

• Open the "Welcome to CareADHD" form and follow the instructions from there 

You don't need to tell us once you're done – we're automatically notified and will move you on to the next step. 

Next, you'll complete some pre–assessment questionnaires. These include internationally recognised screening tools and rating scales, plus a few questions about your child's physical and mental health. 

We know it's a fair bit of paperwork – but completing these carefully really does make a difference. They help our assessors build an accurate picture and save lots of time later on. 

• SNAP-IV (home and school versions) – looks at attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

• Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) – helps us understand your child's emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and how they're getting on at home and school

• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) – an overview of their emotional and behavioural strengths and challenges

• WEISS Functional Impairment Rating Scale – helps us understand how any traits affect daily life, like schoolwork, friendships, routines, or family life

• AQ-10 (child version) – a short screening tool looking at autistic traits

• Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) – helps identify social communication differences linked to autism 

The clinician responsible for your child's assessment reviews everything you share. They'll read through your forms, school input, and any previous reports before the appointment. That way, they’ll come to the assessment with a clear picture of your child's history and how things are for them right now. 

Before we can book the assessment, we'll also need a completed school form (this is the school version of the SNAP-IV) and some extra supporting information. This is the same whether we're assessing for ADHD, autism, or both. To reach a diagnosis, we’ll need to understand how your child gets on in more than one setting, not just at home. 

Don't worry – we can still move forward. We'll just need information from someone else outside the family who knows your child well: a support worker, youth worker, sports coach, club or group leader, tutor, mentor, or another relevant professional. 

Just let us know, and we'll guide you through who's best placed to help and send over the right form. Once we have this second-setting information, we can confirm the appointment and get things moving. 

Once you've completed the questionnaires and we have your child's Summary Care Record, we'll be in touch to book the assessment. What that looks like depends on what your child's being assessed for. To see what our assessments for ADHD and autism involve, please see our article: “Preparing for your child’s assessment”. 

My child refuses to be on screen – can I speak for them instead? 

We know screens, or any new situation, can feel like a big ask for some children. Our clinicians do need to speak with your child directly and see how they interact, so we can't do this step on your behalf – but there's usually a lot we can do to make it easier, based on your child's age and abilities. Get in touch with our team at appointmentscyp@careadhd.co.uk and we'll talk through what adjustments might help. 

Do you contact the school directly? 
Not usually, unless you specifically ask us to. Most families prefer to share the forms themselves, and that works well for everyone. If there's a reason you'd like us to speak with the school directly, just let us know. 

What if the school disagrees with what I'm saying? 
It's common for parents, carers and teachers to see things differently – children often behave and cope in a range of ways depending on where they are. We take both perspectives seriously. A difference in views won't get in the way of us doing a thorough, accurate assessment. 

Can you assess without school input? 
Yes. If school can't (or won't) complete the form, or your child is home-educated, we can still move forward. We'll just need information from someone else outside the family who knows your child well, such as a support worker, sports coach, tutor, or another professional involved in their care or education. We'll guide you through who's best placed to help.