Child Autism Assessment
This page explains each stage of your child's autism assessment journey with Lycali, from initial enquiry and registration through to questionnaires, educational information, assessment appointments, report, feedback and recommendations.
At a Glance
Use the links below to move quickly through each stage of the assessment process.
Initial Enquiry & Registration
Once you contact Lycali, our team will review your enquiry and provide information about the most appropriate autism assessment pathway for your child.
If you decide to proceed, you will be sent a registration form to complete. This allows us to gather key information about your child and register them securely on our clinical management system.
The registration form includes information such as parent/carer contact details, GP details, relevant background information and consent preferences.
Invoice, Terms & Conditions and Consent
Once registered, we will issue your assessment invoice together with our terms and conditions and consent documentation.
These documents must be reviewed and signed before your child's assessment can proceed.
Payment Received
Once payment has been received and all required documentation has been completed, your child's assessment pathway will formally begin.
You will then receive access to the required pre-assessment questionnaires and any additional screening documents needed for the assessment.
Documents to Complete
Please complete the forms below as soon as possible. These help us gather information about your child's developmental history, communication, social interaction, behaviour, sensory experiences, education, health and family background.
Child Developmental History Questionnaire
This questionnaire provides essential information about your child's developmental history, communication, social interaction, behaviour, sensory experiences, education, health and family background.
We also require details of your child's current educational setting so that we can request information from school, nursery, college or other educational providers where appropriate.
You can copy and paste the template below into your email:
Child Autism Add-On Questionnaire
This questionnaire gathers additional information regarding autism-related experiences, including social communication, friendships, routines, interests, sensory processing, emotional regulation and day-to-day functioning.
Educational Setting Questionnaire
We ask that a member of staff from your child's educational setting completes this questionnaire. This may be completed by a teacher, SENCo, key worker, pastoral lead, teaching assistant or another member of staff who knows your child well.
Please share the questionnaire below with the relevant member of staff.
Additional Screening Questionnaires
If your child has already completed a Lycali Autism Pre-Screening Assessment, these questionnaires will not usually need to be completed again unless specifically requested by the assessing clinician.
Where required, you may be asked to complete the following questionnaires:
- AQ-50 Parent Questionnaire
- SNAP-IV 26 Parent or Teacher Questionnaire
- Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
These questionnaires will be sent separately to your email address. Please check your inbox, junk mail and spam folders regularly to ensure you receive all assessment documentation.
In some cases, copies may also be sent directly to your child's educational setting where appropriate.
Parent/Carer Developmental Interview
As part of the autism assessment process, we complete a detailed developmental history interview, such as the ADI-R or equivalent, with a parent or caregiver who knows the child's developmental history well.
This appointment explores your child's early development, communication, social interaction, play skills, interests, routines, sensory experiences, behaviour and day-to-day functioning.
Wherever possible, a parent or caregiver who can provide detailed information about the child's early development should attend this appointment. Where appropriate, both parents may attend together.
This appointment forms an important part of the autism assessment process. The Lycali administration team will contact you to arrange a suitable appointment time.
ADOS-2 Assessment Session
The ADOS-2 is a structured autism assessment completed directly with your child. During this session, the clinician will complete a series of activities and observations designed to explore communication, social interaction, imagination, play and behaviour.
The ADOS-2 module selected will depend on your child's age, developmental stage and language level.
Used for very young children with limited or emerging language.
Who should attend: A parent or caregiver must usually remain present throughout the session.
Used for children who are pre-verbal, use single words, or have limited phrase speech.
Who should attend: A parent or caregiver is usually present throughout the session to support engagement and provide reassurance.
Used for children who use phrase speech but are not yet verbally fluent.
Who should attend: A parent or caregiver may be present for part or all of the session, depending on the child's age, confidence and clinical needs.
Used for verbally fluent children and young people.
Who should attend: The child or young person usually attends the assessment directly with the clinician. Parents or caregivers do not usually remain in the room unless this has been agreed in advance.
Used for verbally fluent older adolescents and adults.
Who should attend: The young person usually attends directly with the clinician. Parents or caregivers do not usually remain in the room unless this has been agreed in advance.
The clinician will decide which ADOS-2 module is most appropriate based on the information available before the appointment and your child's presentation on the day.
The Lycali administration team will contact you to arrange a suitable appointment time and will confirm who should attend.
Report, Feedback and Recommendations
Following completion of the assessment, the clinical team will review and analyse all information gathered throughout the process.
You will receive a comprehensive written report summarising:
- Assessment findings
- Clinical observations
- Information gathered from parents/carers and educational settings
- Diagnostic conclusions where appropriate
- Strengths and areas of need
- Recommendations and next steps
Recommendations may include school adjustments, home strategies, sensory supports, communication strategies, therapy, psychoeducation and post-diagnostic resources.
What Happens After Diagnosis?
Following assessment, you may wish to access additional support, therapy, parent guidance, school recommendations, sensory strategies or autism-specific resources.
Lycali has created a dedicated page to help you understand possible next steps after diagnosis.
If you are unsure which forms to complete, require assistance accessing documentation, or need support identifying the most appropriate educational contact, please contact the Lycali team.
📧 info@lycali.co.uk
🌐 www.lycali.co.uk