Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions
 
What is Cornerstone Assessments?
Cornerstone Assessments is an independent multidisciplinary assessment service providing autism assessments and specialist assessments for children, young people and adults. Our team includes professionals from a range of disciplines, including Speech and Language Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Occupational Therapy and other specialist services.
 
Who can access your services?
We provide services for:

• Children

• Young people

• Adults

• Families

• Schools and educational settings

• Local authorities and other organisations
   

Do I need a referral?
No. Individuals, parents, carers and schools can contact us directly to discuss an assessment or support service. Some services may also be commissioned by schools, local authorities or other professionals.
 
Where do assessments take place?
Assessments may take place:

• At our clinic locations

• In schools or educational settings

• Online (where appropriate)

• At other agreed locations
  The most suitable arrangement will be discussed during the initial consultation.
   

Autism Assessments
 
What is an autism assessment?
An autism assessment is a detailed process designed to understand an individual's strengths, differences and experiences and determine whether they meet the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism is sometimes also referred to as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). 
The assessment considers communication, social interaction, behaviour, interests, sensory experiences and developmental history.
 
How will an autism diagnosis help my child?
For many families, an autism diagnosis provides a clearer understanding of their child's strengths, differences and support needs.
A diagnosis may help:

• Explain behaviours, communication differences and challenges that may previously have been misunderstood

• Inform support strategies at home and in education

• Support access to appropriate adjustments and SEND provision

• Contribute to EHCP processes where appropriate

• Help children and young people better understand themselves as they grow older
   

At Cornerstone Assessments, we focus not only on whether a diagnosis is appropriate, but also on providing practical recommendations to help each child thrive.
 
Are your autism assessments NICE compliant?
Yes.
Our autism assessments are informed by current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance and are completed by appropriately qualified professionals working within a multidisciplinary framework.
 
Our assessment process considers information from a range of sources, including developmental history, direct assessment, observations and relevant background information. Diagnostic decisions are made following careful consideration of all available evidence to ensure assessments are thorough, person-centred and clinically robust.
 
Who carries out the autism assessment?
At Cornerstone Assessments, autism assessments are completed using a multidisciplinary approach.
Our core assessment team typically includes:

• Educational Psychologist

• Speech and Language Therapist

• Clinical Psychologist

Additional professionals may be involved where appropriate, depending on the individual's needs and presentation.
 
Will I see every professional listed on your website?
No.
Every assessment is tailored to the individual. While our core team usually consists of a Speech and Language Therapist, Clinical Psychologist and Educational Psychologist, additional professionals are only involved when their expertise would add value to the assessment process.
 
This ensures assessments remain personalised and relevant to each individual.
 
What age can someone be assessed for autism?
We provide autism assessments for children, young people and adults, starting from the age of 4. If you are unsure whether an assessment would be appropriate, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your circumstances.
 
How long does the assessment process take?
Timescales vary depending on the complexity of the assessment and the information required. Following your initial enquiry, we will discuss expected timescales and keep you informed throughout the process. We anticipate the whole process taking 2-6 weeks but this may vary depending on various factors. 
 
What happens during an autism assessment?
The assessment process may include:

• Developmental history gathering

• Parent, carer or family interviews (using the ADI-R)

• Direct assessment sessions and observation of communication and interaction (using the ADOS 2)

• Questionnaires and rating scales

• Information from schools or other professionals (where available)

• Multidisciplinary discussion and decision-making

The exact process will depend on the individual's age and circumstances.
 
What information will you need before the assessment?
This varies depending on the individual's age and circumstances, but may include developmental information, school reports, previous assessments, medical information and questionnaires completed by parents, carers, teachers or the individual themselves.
Providing this information helps us build a fuller understanding of an individual's strengths, needs and experiences.
 
Will I receive a diagnosis on the day?
No.
Following the assessment, the professionals involved will review all available information before reaching a decision. This ensures that any diagnostic conclusions are informed, evidence-based and clinically robust. Feedback will then be provided alongside a written report.
 
Can adults have an autism assessment?
Yes.
We assess both children and adults. Adult assessments are adapted to reflect individual circumstances, experiences and developmental history. A slightly different team will be used for an adult assessment and will usually include a Speech and Language Therapist, Clinical Psychologist and Occupational Therapist.
 
What if autism is not diagnosed?
Not receiving an autism diagnosis does not mean an individual's experiences or difficulties are not valid. Our assessments aim to understand the whole person. Where autism is not identified, we will explain our findings and provide recommendations regarding any support that may be beneficial.
 
Reports and Outcomes
 
Will I receive a report?
Yes.
A comprehensive written report is provided following assessment. This will summarise the assessment process, findings, conclusions and recommendations. Given the complexity of the report and the numerous professionals involved in writing it, the report may take up to 6 weeks to write and send.
 
Can the report be shared with my child's school?
Yes.
With your consent, reports can be shared with schools, colleges, universities, healthcare professionals or other relevant services.
 
Are your reports accepted by schools and local authorities?
Our reports are produced by appropriately qualified and regulated professionals and are written to a professional standard.
Acceptance of reports ultimately rests with the receiving organisation; however, our reports are designed to support understanding, planning and decision-making across education and other settings.
 
Can your reports be used for EHCP applications?
Our reports may be used as supporting evidence within Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) processes. However, decisions regarding EHCP assessments and provision remain the responsibility of the local authority.
 
What support is available after an autism diagnosis?
Receiving a diagnosis is often the beginning of a journey rather than the end of an assessment process.
 
Following assessment, we provide detailed recommendations tailored to the individual. Depending on need, families may also choose to access additional support through Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology, Occupational Therapy, SEN Advisory Services or other specialist services.
 
Our aim is to help individuals, families and educational settings understand strengths, identify areas where support may be helpful and access practical strategies moving forward.
 
Other Services
 
Do you only provide autism assessments?
No.
Many of our professionals can also be accessed independently of the autism assessment pathway.
We offer a range of specialist services, including:

• Speech and Language Therapy

• Educational Psychology

• Occupational Therapy

• Clinical Psychology

• Dyslexia Assessments

• SEN Advisory Services
   

Can I book an individual assessment without an autism assessment?
Yes.
Families, schools and adults can access individual assessments, consultations and support services without undertaking an autism assessment.
Please contact us to discuss your needs and we can advise on the most appropriate service.
 
Can schools refer directly?
Yes.
Schools and educational settings can contact us directly to discuss assessments, consultations, training or specialist support services. We regularly work collaboratively with schools to ensure assessment findings and recommendations are meaningful, practical and achievable within educational settings.
 
Fees and Appointments
 
How much does an assessment cost?
Assessment costs vary depending on the service required and the professionals involved. Please contact us for current pricing information and a personalised quotation. 
 
Do you offer payment plans?
Please contact us to discuss available payment options.
 
What happens if I need to cancel or rearrange an appointment?
We understand that circumstances can change. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to rearrange an appointment.
Our cancellation policy will be provided at the time of booking.
 
Contacting Us
I'm not sure which service I need. Can you help?
Absolutely. Many families contact us because they are unsure which assessment or service would be most appropriate. We are happy to discuss your concerns, answer any questions and help identify the most suitable next steps. Please get in touch and a member of our team will be happy to help.