When a child is struggling to focus, sit still or manage their emotions, it can affect school, home and friendships. A private ADHD assessment for your child gives clear answers, a detailed written report and guidance on the support available, carried out by qualified clinicians, and usually far sooner than NHS waiting times.
The signsIn children, ADHD shows up at home and school, and it needs to be seen in more than one setting. Common signs include:
Being constantly on the go, unable to sit stillPoor concentration and trouble following instructionsBeing easily distracted and forgetfulActing on impulse and struggling to wait their turnDifficulty finishing tasks or schoolworkFidgeting, interrupting or talking excessivelyBig emotional reactions and difficulty calming downTrouble with friendships or following rulesAll children can be lively or distracted at times. What matters is whether these patterns are persistent, appear in more than one setting, and are genuinely affecting your child's daily life. An assessment can help make sense of it.
The processGet in touch and we'll explain how a child's ADHD assessment works and answer your questions.
Standardised questionnaires are completed before the appointment by parents or carers and the child's school, so we can see how things are across settings.
A qualified clinician meets your child, considers their development and early history, and observes them during the appointment.
You receive a clear result and, where the criteria are met, a formal diagnosis, with other explanations carefully ruled out.
A detailed written report with practical recommendations and guidance on support at home and school.
For the full overview of how we assess children, young people and adults, see our ADHD Assessment page.
Why it helpsUnderstanding ADHD early can make a real difference to how a child gets on at school and at home. Whatever the outcome, an assessment brings clarity and a way forward.
Make sense of difficulties at school and homeHelp teachers and family understand your child's needsUnlock support and reasonable adjustments at schoolAccess behavioural strategies and parent supportConsider an Education, Health and Care Plan where neededSupport your child's confidence and friendshipsAfter diagnosisA diagnosis is the beginning of getting the right help. For children, support usually starts with understanding, structure and behavioural approaches, with medication considered separately and only where appropriate.
Reasonable adjustments help your child learn and settle:
Clear routines and seating away from distractionsInstructions broken into small, simple stepsExtra help with organisation and transitionsRegular home–school communicationAn Education, Health and Care Plan where needed
Predictable structure helps children feel secure:
Consistent routines and clear, simple expectationsVisual timetables, reminders and checklistsBreaking tasks into small stepsPraise and rewards for effort
Everyday habits support focus and mood:
Plenty of physical activity and playConsistent, good-quality sleepBalanced meals and limited screens before bed
For children, support often begins with behavioural approaches and parent-training or education programmes, which help the whole family manage ADHD day to day. Where helpful, therapy can support emotional regulation and confidence as your child grows.
Medication is not usually the first step for younger children, and it is never compulsory. Where it is considered, generally for school-age children with more significant difficulties, it is started and carefully monitored by a specialist, beginning with a low dose and reviewed over time.
A diagnosis helps everyone around your child understand their needs. Working together, families and schools can put consistent support in place, and many parents find that understanding ADHD eases stress and improves family life.
A diagnosis is not about limitations. With early understanding and the right support, children with ADHD thrive at school, build friendships and grow in confidence, playing to their many strengths.
Tell us a little about your child and we'll be in touch to talk it through, with no pressure and no obligation.
Good to knowA child's ADHD assessment is a thorough evaluation carried out by a qualified professional to establish whether a child's difficulties with attention, activity levels or impulsivity are explained by ADHD. It is not a single test. It gathers standardised questionnaires and observations from more than one setting, usually home and school, because ADHD must be seen across different environments. A clinician meets the child, considers their development and early history, observes them, and rules out other explanations before measuring the findings against recognised criteria and setting out the outcome in a written report.
A full evaluation, not a quick quizGathers information from home and schoolEnds with a clear written reportIf your child is struggling with concentration, activity levels, impulsivity or emotions in a way that affects school, home or friendships, an assessment can bring clarity. Where the criteria are met, a diagnosis helps teachers and family understand your child's needs and opens the door to support, including reasonable adjustments at school, behavioural strategies and, in some cases, an Education, Health and Care Plan. Even where ADHD is not diagnosed, an assessment offers answers and guidance on what might help. Early understanding can make a real difference.
Makes sense of difficulties at school and homeUnlocks understanding and supportEarly help can make a real differenceYou don't need to be certain your child has ADHD before seeking an assessment; part of its value is bringing clarity either way. It may be worth considering if your child has persistent difficulties with attention, activity levels or impulsivity that show up in more than one setting and are affecting daily life. Teachers may raise concerns, or you may notice patterns at home. If you're unsure, a conversation with us, your GP or the school's SENCO is a good starting point.
Persistent difficulties across more than one settingAffecting school, home or friendshipsNo need to be certain before enquiringIn younger children, ADHD may look like being constantly on the go and unable to sit still, poor concentration, trouble following instructions, being easily distracted and forgetful, acting on impulse and struggling to wait their turn. You might also notice big emotional reactions, difficulty finishing tasks, or trouble with friendships and rules. All children are lively or distracted at times, so what matters is whether these patterns are persistent, appear in more than one setting and are genuinely affecting daily life.
On the go, distracted and impulsiveTrouble following instructions and finishing tasksPersistent and seen across settingsIn children, ADHD is diagnosed by gathering evidence from the important settings in a child's life and assessing it against recognised criteria. Parents or carers and the child's school are usually asked to complete standardised questionnaires and share observations, because ADHD must be seen in more than one environment. A qualified clinician meets the child, considers their development and early history, and observes them during the appointment, while ruling out other explanations. Because young children, and girls in particular, can mask their difficulties, experienced clinicians take care to look beneath the surface.
Evidence gathered from home and schoolA clinician meets and observes the childJudged against recognised criteriaChildren can be assessed for ADHD, and while there isn't a single fixed age, assessments are most reliable once a child is at school, where difficulties can be seen across settings. For very young children, a careful, cautious approach is taken, and behavioural support is often the starting point. If you're unsure whether the time is right, we're happy to talk it through and advise on what would help your child now.
Usually most reliable from school ageA cautious approach for very young childrenWe can advise on the right timeSchool input is an important part of a child's assessment, because ADHD must be seen in more than one setting. Teachers observe your child in a different environment and can share valuable information about concentration, behaviour and learning through questionnaires or a short report. With your consent, we'll explain what's helpful to gather. A clear diagnosis, where appropriate, can then be shared with school to help put support in place.
ADHD must be seen in more than one settingSchool shares observations, with your consentThe report helps unlock support at schoolIn the UK, ADHD can only be formally diagnosed by a suitably qualified and registered professional, typically a psychiatrist, a specialist ADHD nurse, or a psychologist with the relevant training. What matters is that the clinician is registered with the appropriate body, such as the GMC, NMC or HCPC, and works in line with national guidance. This is why it's worth choosing your provider carefully. When you enquire, we're happy to explain who would carry out your child's assessment and their qualifications.
A psychiatrist, specialist nurse or qualified psychologistRegistered with the GMC, NMC or HCPCWorking in line with national guidanceYes. A private assessment is a straightforward way to get answers, often far sooner than NHS waiting times allow. You don't necessarily need a GP referral to enquire, though involving your GP can help join up any outcome with your child's wider care. A private assessment follows the same recognised standards, with a qualified clinician, validated tools and a detailed report you can share with your GP and school. When you get in touch, we'll explain what's involved, the cost and the likely timescales.
Often much sooner than NHS waiting timesSame recognised standards and a shareable reportWe'll explain the process, cost and timescalesThey can be, provided they are carried out properly. A remote assessment by a qualified, registered clinician, following recognised criteria and drawing on questionnaires and observations from home and school, can be valid, though some families, particularly with younger children, prefer to meet in person. What is not reliable is a quick online quiz or a diagnosis based on a short questionnaire alone. If you're considering an online assessment, check that it is delivered by a registered professional and follows NICE guidance.
Remote assessment by a registered clinician can be validSome families prefer in person for young childrenA quick online quiz is not a real assessment