DR ASHLEY FRANCIS
Private child Autism & ADHD Assessments in Sheffield
I provide private autism and ADHD assessments for children and young people in Sheffield and the surrounding South Yorkshire area.
Autism and ADHD are neurodevelopmental conditions that can affect attention, behaviour, emotional regulation, communication and learning. Differences may become more noticeable as school and social demands increase.
A structured assessment can help provide clarity about a child or young person's needs and support appropriate understanding at home and in school.
When parents consider an assessment
Parents often begin exploring an assessment when they notice patterns such as:
- Difficulty maintaining attention in school
- High levels of activity or impulsivity
- Social communication differences
- Emotional regulation challenges
- Sensory sensitivities
- Difficulties with routines or transitions
An assessment helps determine whether these experiences may be consistent with autism, ADHD or another developmental difference.
What happens during a child autism or ADHD assessment
The assessment process is designed to build a detailed understanding of a child or young person’s development and current experiences.
Assessments typically include:
Initial phone consultation
A phone consultation allows parents or carers to discuss their concerns and determine whether a full assessment would be appropriate.
Screening questionnaires
Parents and sometimes teachers may complete structured questionnaires to provide information about attention, behaviour and development across different settings.
Clinical assessment appointment
A full assessment appointment typically lasts around 2.5 hours and may include:
- Developmental history
- Emotional and behavioural history
- Educational experiences
- Structured diagnostic tools where appropriate
Written diagnostic report
Following the assessment, a detailed written report is provided outlining findings and recommendations to support the child or young person.
Contact Dr Francis to arrange an assessment or to view full details of the assessment fees.
Child Autism & ADHD Assessments in Sheffield
Assessments are available for families across Sheffield and surrounding areas including:
- Sheffield
- Rotherham
- Barnsley
- Chesterfield
- Doncaster
Child Autism & ADHD Assessments in Sheffield
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about Autism & ADHD assessments, including the assessment process, timescales and next steps. If you need further information, this can also be discussed during the initial phone consultation.
I generally assess children aged seven years and above, as this helps ensure the assessment provides a clear and reliable understanding of a child’s development, behaviour and needs.
The full clinical assessment typically lasts around two to three hours and includes developmental history, questionnaires and structured assessment tools.
Yes. Private autism assessments are available for children and young people in Sheffield and the surrounding South Yorkshire region.
Yes. A detailed written report is provided outlining the findings and practical recommendations to support the child or young person.
An ASD (autism) assessment and report costs £1,995. Payment is made in two instalments:
An initial deposit of £997.50 to secure the assessment, and a final payment of £997.50 when the report is completed.
An ADHD assessment and report costs £1,500. Payment is made in two instalments:
An initial deposit of £750 to secure the assessment, and a final payment of £750 when the report is completed.
Initial phone consultations and screening questionnaires cost £75 and are deducted from your final fee if you decide to go ahead with a full assessment.
NHS autism and ADHD assessment services often have very long waiting lists, sometimes up to 2 years. It has therefore become common for people to seek a private assessment to speed up the assessment process.
NHS services will read Dr Francis’ reports and as long as the assessment process is considered thorough and follows NICE guidelines, they are likely to accept the diagnosis and provide support where needed, such as tailored mental health support.
Dr Francis completes the autism assessment with you or your child all on the same day. Typically, this takes between 3–4 hours and consists of:
- A 1-hour observational assessment (ADOS-2)
- A 2–3 hour developmental history interview (ADI-R)
After the assessment, Dr Francis writes the report and meets with a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to finalise whether the diagnostic criteria are met.
Typically, the autism assessment report is completed and returned within 4 weeks from the date of assessment.
The full ADHD assessment typically takes 2.5–3 hours and includes:
- A 1-hour interview covering developmental, medical and psychological history
- A 1.5–2 hour interview using the DIVA-5 assessment tool
Typically, the ADHD report is completed and returned within 3 weeks from the date of assessment.
Yes. Dr Ashley Francis is professionally registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). His registration number is PYL33429, which can be verified via the HCPC website.
