Assessments are carried out by Dr Dean O’Driscoll (Educational and Child Psychologist).

Yes, I am now accepting bookings for appointments beginning September 2024 and beyond.

The standard fee for assessment is £600.

To request an appointment please complete the online Booking Request Form.

A non-refundable deposit of £50 is required to secure the appointment. The deposit amount will be deducted from the total cost of the assessment. The remaining balance is paid on the day of the assessment.  

Educational Psychology assessments are available for young people at preschool, primary, post-primary and university level.

Adult assessments are also available.

Yes, Educational Psychology assessments are available to young people in Derry and across Northern Ireland.

Yes, Educational Psychology assessments are available to young people in Donegal and throughout the Republic of Ireland.

Adult assessments are available. Please complete the online Contact Form for further information.

Upon booking the appointment, you will be sent parent and school questionnaires to gather further information about a young person’s areas of strength, need and current level of support.

Questionnaires to capture the young person's views may also be provided.

Assessments are tailored to a young person’s needs and may include:

• Standardised assessments of cognition.

• Standardised assessments of educational attainments in literacy and mathematics.

• Consultation with parent and young person.

• Questionnaires to further understand a young person’s needs.

• Play-based activities (e.g., drawing, colouring etc.).

The assessment is child-centred and relaxed to ensure that young people feel comfortable in whatever way they need to complete activities and tasks.

The assessment typically lasts between 2 to 3 hours. However, completion times can vary on an individual basis. There will be lots of opportunities for breaks and discussion.

All resources needed for the assessment will be provided on the day. There is no need to bring any additional materials.

You may wish to bring any relevant documents, such as school reports or copies of Personal Learning Plans (if available) for my perusal.

The following involvements may also be available upon request:

• School consultations.

• School visits.

• Home visits.

These involvements are subject to availability and may incur an additional charge at an hourly rate billed at 15 minute intervals.

You will receive a detailed report outlining the findings of the assessment and suggested recommendations to support a young person’s needs at school or home.

Reports are typically sent within 2 to 4 weeks following the assessment. You will be kept informed on the timeline of the report being issued.

I do not offer assessments for diagnosis of ASD or ADHD at this time (watch this space). However, an Educational Psychology assessment can help understand the needs that may be associated with these conditions and provide recommendations to support a young person at school or home.

A copy of the Educational Psychology report can be included as supporting evidence when undergoing formal ASD or ADHD assessment.

My reports can be used as supporting evidence for the Statutory Assessment process.

Please see here for more information on requesting a statutory assessment of a young person’s special educational needs.

The Education Authority NI online portal for making a request for statutory assessment can be found here.

Yes, O’Driscoll Educational & Child Psychology also offers the following services:  

• SEN appeal and tribunal Educational Psychology assessments.

• Expert witness assessments for family and criminal law cases.

Due to the bespoke nature of these services, assessments are billed at an hourly rate.