Learning Assessments
When learning feels harder than it should, understanding why can make all the difference.
Some children work incredibly hard at school but continue to struggle with reading, spelling, writing or mathematics.
Others may avoid schoolwork, become frustrated with homework or begin to lose confidence because tasks that seem straightforward for their peers feel much more difficult for them.
A comprehensive learning assessment can help identify the factors contributing to these difficulties and provide a clearer understanding of your child's individual learning profile.
At Nutricula Psychology, we provide evidence-based learning assessments designed to give families and educators practical information they can use to better support a child's learning.
Mackay | Brisbane
Could a Learning Assessment Help?
Sometimes the signs show up in the schoolwork. Sometimes they show up in how a child feels about learning.
A learning assessment may be helpful when a child is experiencing ongoing difficulties despite appropriate teaching and additional support.
1
Reading
Your child may read slowly, have difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, lose their place when reading or struggle to develop reading fluency.
2
Spelling & Writing
You may notice persistent spelling difficulties, challenges getting ideas onto paper, difficulty structuring written work or a large difference between what your child can explain verbally and what they produce in writing.
3
Mathematics
Your child may have difficulty understanding number concepts, remembering basic number facts, completing calculations or learning mathematical procedures.
4
Confidence & School Experience
Sometimes the first thing parents notice isn't academic at all.
Your child may avoid homework, become distressed about school, describe themselves as "bad at" a subject or work much harder than expected to keep up.
Persistent difficulty does not mean a child isn't intelligent or isn't trying.
Assessment helps us understand how they learn and where the difficulty is occurring.
Understanding Specific Learning Disorders
Learning difficulties can affect different areas of academic development.
A Specific Learning Disorder involves persistent difficulties learning and using academic skills.
Depending on the individual's profile, difficulties may primarily affect reading, written expression or mathematics.
Reading
Often associated with the term dyslexia, difficulties may involve accurate or fluent word reading, decoding and reading comprehension.
Written Expression
Difficulties may involve spelling, grammar, punctuation, organisation or clarity of written expression.
Mathematics
Sometimes referred to as dyscalculia, difficulties may involve number sense, learning arithmetic facts, calculation or mathematical reasoning.
Every learning profile is different.
Assessment helps identify the specific areas of difficulty rather than assuming that all children who struggle academically are experiencing the same problem.
What Does a Learning Assessment Look At?
We look beyond school grades.
A comprehensive learning assessment brings together information about your child's learning, thinking and educational experiences.
1
Understanding the Concern
We begin by exploring your child's developmental and educational history, current concerns and any support they have already received.
Previous school reports, intervention information or other professional reports may also be useful.
2
Understanding How Your Child Thinks and Learns
Cognitive assessment may be used to explore areas such as verbal reasoning, visual-spatial processing, working memory and processing speed.
This helps develop a broader understanding of the child's cognitive profile.
3
Assessing Academic Skills
Standardised achievement measures are used to understand skills in relevant areas such as:
-
Reading
-
Spelling
-
Written expression
-
Mathematics
4
Considering the Broader Picture
Learning difficulties don't always occur in isolation.
Where appropriate, we consider other factors that may be influencing learning, including attention, emotional wellbeing and developmental differences.
5
Considering the Broader Picture
Assessment results are interpreted alongside developmental history, educational information and the support the child has already received.
This allows us to develop a more complete picture of how your child learns, where difficulties are occurring and what may help.
Learning Difficulty, ADHD or Something Else?
Similar struggles can have different underlying reasons.
A child who isn't completing schoolwork may be having difficulty understanding the material.
Another may understand it well but struggle to maintain attention.
Another may find it difficult to hold information in working memory, process instructions quickly or manage the emotional pressure they associate with school.
And sometimes more than one factor is involved.
This is why comprehensive assessment matters.
Rather than beginning with an assumption about the diagnosis, we consider the broader pattern of learning, attention, development and functioning.
Where the assessment identifies concerns that would benefit from further investigation, we'll explain the findings and discuss the most appropriate next steps.
Concerned about attention as well as learning?
What You'll Leave With
A clearer understanding of your child's learning profile.
Assessment shouldn't leave families with a page of scores they don't understand.
Following a comprehensive learning assessment, you'll receive a detailed written report that brings the findings together in practical language.
Understanding Strengths
Learn where your child performs well and how those strengths may support their learning.
Identifying Difficulties
Understand the specific academic skills or cognitive processes that may be contributing to difficulty.
Diagnostic Clarification
Where appropriate, the assessment may identify whether the pattern is consistent with a Specific Learning Disorder.
Practical Recommendations
Receive individualised recommendations designed to support learning at school and at home.
Clear Next Steps
Where additional intervention, support or assessment may be beneficial, we'll explain what to consider next.
Helping Schools Understand How Your Child Learns
The report is designed to be useful beyond the assessment room.
For many families, one of the most valuable outcomes of a learning assessment is having clearer information to share with their child's school.
Where appropriate, your report may provide recommendations relating to:
-
Classroom support
-
Learning adjustments
-
Targeted intervention
-
Reading, writing or mathematics support
-
Assessment conditions
-
Strategies that reflect your child's individual learning profile
The aim is to help parents and educators move from "They're struggling" to a clearer understanding of where they're struggling and what support may be useful.
Why Choose Nutricula Psychology for a Learning Assessment?
Comprehensive Assessment
We look at the broader learning profile rather than considering one academic skill in isolation.
Detailed Written Report
Families receive a comprehensive report explaining the findings and practical recommendations.
School Focused Support
Our reports can provide useful information for parents and educators when considering appropriate learning support.
.png)
Individualised Recommendations
Recommendations reflect the individual child's assessment results, strengths and areas of difficulty.
Shorter Wait Times
Nutricula Psychology aims to offer assessment appointments within weeks where possible.
Current availability varies, so please contact our administration team for current timeframes.
.png)
Support Beyond Assessment
Our focus is helping families understand what the findings mean and what they can do with that information.
.png)
Frequently asked questions
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
Ready to Understand What's Making Learning Difficult?
You don't need to know whether your child has dyslexia, a Specific Learning Disorder, ADHD or another learning difficulty before contacting us.
Tell us what you've been noticing.
Our team can help you understand the available assessment options and discuss the most appropriate pathway.