Special educational needs school opens new assessment centre
The Gesher Assessment Centre in Pinner has started taking bookings for assessment sessions beginning in June 2023.
A new assessment centre for children with autism and other related conditions will support families to get timely assessments, expert diagnoses and advice.
The Gesher Assessment Centre, based in Cecil Park, Pinner, has started taking bookings for assessment sessions beginning in June.
Set up by Ali Durban, one of the co-founders of nearby Gesher School, the centre offers parents short wait times, same-day diagnoses then detailed recommendations on their child’s educational and home support.
The centre is a separate entity to the school.
“For many families,” says Durban, “finding the right assessment can be confusing and challenging. So, in setting up the centre, we listened to parents’ needs to create a warm, compassionate approach that supports parents, carers, and children throughout the assessment process and beyond.
Leandri Ferreria, Gesher AC clinical lead, says: “We have sought ways to ease the pressures on families by dealing with unnecessary delays and offering practical and thorough advice.”
The service will include the following:
● Dates and times that parents can choose themselves.
● Triage with a therapist on the phone, followed by a prompt face-to-face consultation.
● Face-to-face assessments are followed up by a same-day verbal report.
● The written report will include recommendations, signposts towards local support, and tactics to cope at home.
Delays and challenges around access to SEND assessments are well documented, with many parents opting for private assistance. The UK government has identified difficulties with accessing support and delays in assessment, and earlier this year, launched the Alternative Provision Green Paper consultation, the results of which will be published before the end of the year.
For more information on the Gesher Assessment Centre or to make a triage appointment click here
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