Educational Assessments

A learning assessment is a comprehensive evaluation designed to understand why a child or young person is experiencing difficulties with learning at school. It focuses on identifying patterns of strengths and needs in thinking, learning, and academic skills, and on clarifying whether learning difficulties are related to an underlying learning disorder or other factors.

Learning assessments are most commonly completed for children and young people in primary school and high school who are experiencing ongoing academic difficulties despite appropriate instruction and support.

Who conducts an educational assessment?

At The Daisy Clinic, learning assessments are conducted only by psychologists with specialist training and experience in cognitive, academic, and psychometric assessment. Not all clinicians are qualified to complete learning assessments. These assessments require advanced skills in the administration and interpretation of standardised cognitive and academic measures, as well as clinical formulation and diagnostic decision-making.

Families are always matched with a psychologist who has the appropriate qualifications, experience, and scope of practice to complete this specialised assessment.

Who are educational assessments for?

A learning assessment may be recommended when a child or adolescent presents with ongoing learning difficulties that persist despite appropriate support. As a general guideline, learning assessments are most appropriate when:

• the child has completed at least 12 months of formal schooling, or
• where a child has relocated to Australia, they have had a minimum of 2 years of schooling attendance.

In addition, it is recommended that the child has received at least one school term of evidence-based intervention targeting the area(s) of difficulty prior to assessment. This ensures that the assessment can meaningfully determine whether learning difficulties reflect an underlying learning disorder, rather than limited exposure or opportunity to learn.

Learning assessments are appropriate for students in primary school and high school where there is a need to better understand persistent learning difficulties and guide targeted, evidence-based support.

What assessments are used?

The specific assessment tools used depend on the child’s age, year level, presenting concerns, and referral questions.

Learning assessments typically involve a combination of:

• Cognitive assessment (e.g. WISC-V, WAIS-IV)
• Academic achievement assessment (e.g. WIAT, Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement)
• Adaptive functioning questionnaires to understand everyday skills across home and school environments
• For learning difficulties, we also also usually screen for attention and other factors that may be impacting learning, such as anxiety, emotional regulation, and behavioural functioning. As part of this process, a behavioural assessment screener (such as a BASC or similar measure) is routinely administered.

This ensures that learning difficulties are understood in context and that factors such as attention, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing are appropriately considered alongside cognitive and academic skills. The assessment battery is individualised for each child following the initial parent interview.

Is this a diagnostic assessment?

Yes. A learning assessment is a diagnostic assessment and may inform diagnoses such as:

• Specific Learning Disorder (with impairment in reading, written expression, and/or mathematics)
• Intellectual Developmental Disorder
• Learning difficulties associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Learning impacts related to neurodevelopmental, emotional, or medical factors

Even where diagnostic criteria are not met, learning assessments provide valuable information to support educational planning and intervention.

What is involved and what does it cost?

Learning assessments at The Daisy Clinic follow a staged and transparent process, allowing families to understand findings and costs at each step and to pause the process if needed.

Step 1: Parent Interview

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Cost: $349.49

A detailed interview with a parent or caregiver to gather developmental, educational, and psychosocial history, and to clarify learning concerns and referral questions.

Step 2: Questionnaires

• Cost: $116.50 per questionnaire

For learning assessments, questionnaires will generally include:

• an adaptive functioning questionnaire (parent and teacher forms), and
• a BASC (parent and teacher forms).

This typically involves four questionnaires in total to capture functioning across home and school environments. Additional questionnaires may be included where clinically indicated. Additional questionnaires (e.g. attention or behaviour measures) may be included where clinically indicated. The specific measures selected depend on the child’s presentation and referral questions.

Step 3: Cognitive Assessment Administration

• Duration: Typically up to 2 hours
• Cost: $582.47

Face-to-face administration of a standardised cognitive assessment to understand how the child thinks, reasons, and learns.

Step 4: Academic Achievement Assessment Administration

• Duration: Typically up to hours
• Cost: $582.47

Administration of standardised academic achievement measures to assess skills in areas such as reading, writing, spelling, and mathematics.

Step 5: Brief Summary Report (required)

• Cost: $465.98

At the conclusion of the assessment process, families receive a written report that:

• Integrates cognitive, academic, and questionnaire findings
• Explains the child’s learning profile in clear, accessible language
• Outlines diagnostic considerations where relevant
• Provides practical recommendations for school and home

Typical total cost

Based on the components outlined above the typical overall cost for a comprehensive educational assessment with brief report is $2,446.41.

In some circumstances, a referral from a paediatrician may entitle families to a Medicare rebate for part of the learning assessment process. Eligibility depends on the type of referral and the assessment components required. Where a learning assessment is completed as part of a broader paediatrician-led assessment, and the paediatrician is taking the diagnostic lead, the assessment pathway and costs may differ. In these cases, families are charged only for the assessment components required.

Our team will discuss Medicare rebate eligibility, recommended assessment components, and any applicable out-of-pocket costs with families prior to commencing the assessment.