Assessment centre
Knowing what a child needs, early
We are a preschool and an assessment centre. Developmental assessment is built into how we teach — and it is available to families whose children are not enrolled with us.
“Is this normal for their age?” is one of the most common questions parents ask us.
It deserves a better answer than a guess. A developmental assessment looks at how a child is doing across language, early literacy and numeracy, motor skills, attention, and how they play and relate to others — and turns that into something you can actually use: what is going well, what needs support, and what to do next. Most children we assess turn out to be developing exactly as they should. When something does need attention, finding it at three or four is far easier than finding it at seven.
What we look at
Language & communication
How a child understands what is said to them, how they express themselves, and how they use language with other children rather than only with adults.
Early literacy & numeracy
Letter and sound knowledge, print awareness, counting, comparing, sorting and pattern — the foundations, not formal schoolwork.
Motor skills
Gross motor control in running, climbing and balance, and fine motor control in grip, cutting, threading and early writing.
Attention & regulation
How long a child can stay with something, how they cope with transitions, and how they manage frustration when a task is hard.
Social & emotional development
Play, turn-taking, friendship, empathy, and how a child separates from a parent and settles into a group.
School readiness
Pulled together into a picture of whether a child is ready for the next step, and what would help them be readier.
Who it is for
Enrolled or not, you are welcome
For children at Kaleidoscope Kids, assessment is continuous. We observe as we teach and report formally each term, so nothing waits for a scheduled test.
For children who attend elsewhere, we offer standalone assessments — often because a parent, a teacher or a doctor has raised a question, or simply because you want a clear picture before choosing a primary school. You do not need a referral.
How an assessment works
We talk first
A conversation with you about what you have noticed, what the day looks like at home, and what you are hoping to find out. You know your child best; we start there.
Your child plays
The session itself looks like play, because for a three-year-old that is the only way to see real ability. Usually two shorter sessions rather than one long one.
We put it in writing
A written report in plain language — strengths first, then anything needing support, then specific things to do about it. No jargon you have to look up.
We go through it together
A meeting to talk it through and answer questions. If a referral to a speech therapist, occupational therapist or paediatrician makes sense, we say so and help you take that step.
A word about worry
Asking for an assessment is not saying something is wrong with your child. It is asking a clear question and getting a clear answer — and most of the time, the answer is reassuring. When it is not, you will have found out at the age when help works best.