Gifted and Talented Assessments for Children 1-16 years

Sydney & Online Across Australia

Is your child reaching their full potential?

You've Noticed Something Special About Your Child

Maybe they're asking questions that surprise you. Reading before they started school. Distracted in class. Or their teacher has mentioned they're ahead — but you're not sure what to do next.

Many parents struggle to get clear answers about their child's abilities. With proper documentation, your child could achieve:

• Entry into selective or gifted programs

• Appropriate learning extensions at school

• Early intervention for twice-exceptional learners (gifted + learning differences)

• The confidence that comes from being truly understood

You want answers. You want to understand how your child thinks, learns, and communicates. You want objective data that schools and programs will recognise. And you want a plan that actually helps.

That's exactly what this service provides.

A Rigorous, Evidence-Based Assessment

This service provides comprehensive, standardised language assessment using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF P3 and-5th Editions) — one of the most widely used and trusted language standardised language assessments trusted by clinicians, schools, and education systems worldwide. This is a formal, norm-referenced assessment that provides objective, quantifiable data about your child's language abilities. It is structured, systematic, and designed to give you clear, comparable results. Further evaluations to determine literacy (reading and spelling) ability are also included in your child's assessment to gain holistic understanding of your child's development in conjunction with the CELF.

Why Standardised Assessment Matters

For gifted children, you need more than impressions or observations. You need:

• Objective data that schools and programs will accept

• Norm-referenced scores that show where your child sits compared to age peers

• Specific domain breakdowns that reveal strengths and weaknesses

• Professional documentation that supports planning and advocacy

• Evidence-based results that guide next steps

What the CELF Measures

The CELF is a comprehensive language battery that assesses multiple domains:

Language Areas Evaluated (may vary depending on age)

• Receptive Language — Understanding spoken language, following complex instructions, comprehending abstract concepts

• Expressive Language — Vocabulary depth, sentence formulation, word retrieval, grammatical accuracy

• Language Content — Semantic knowledge, word relationships, conceptual understanding

• Language Structure — Syntax, grammar, sentence complexity

• Pragmatic Language — Social communication, conversational skills, understanding context and inference

• Working Memory — Verbal memory capacity for holding and manipulating information

• Metalinguistic Skills — Language awareness essential for literacy and higher-level learning

Areas of Literacy Evaluated (may vary depending on age)

• Spelling —Encoding skills, orthographic knowledge, application of spelling rules and patterns

• Reading Accuracy — Word recognition, decoding skills, fluency, and precision in reading connected text

• Reading Comprehension — Understanding written text, making inferences, identifying main ideas and details

• Phonological Awareness — Sound manipulation, rhyming, segmenting, and blending skills foundational to reading and spelling

The Assessment Process

1. Comprehensive CELF and Literacy Assessments (up to 2 Hours)

The assessments are administered in a structured, systematic format using standardised protocols. Your child will complete a series of tasks that assess different domains.

This is a formal assessment. Tasks are scored according to standardised procedures to ensure valid, reliable results.

Administered in a calm, supportive environment — in-person at your child's place of education in Sydney metro or via telehealth (Australia-wide).

2. Detailed Professional Report & 30 minute live Zoom feedback session

You'll receive a comprehensive written report including:

• Standardised CELF and other assessment scores — Core Language Score, Index scores, subtest scaled scores

• Percentile ranks and age equivalents — Clear comparison to age peers

• Confidence intervals and statistical significance — Professional interpretation of score patterns

• Qualitative observations — How your child approached tasks, response patterns, behavioural observations

• Clinical interpretation — What the scores mean for learning, communication, and daily functioning

• Practical recommendations — Specific strategies for home and school

• Next steps guidance — Whether additional assessment or intervention is indicated

We'll meet over Zoom to discuss the results in detail. You'll have time to ask questions, understand the scores, and clarify recommendations.

You'll leave with more clarity, objective data, and a clear plan forward.

Who This Assessment Helps - For Parents Who Need:

✅ Objective, standardised data — Not impressions, but quantifiable evidence
✅ Professional documentation — For school planning, program applications, or service coordination
✅ Clear answers about language profile — Strengths, weaknesses, and patterns explained
✅ Evidence to support advocacy — Data that schools and programs recognise and respect
✅ Understanding of asynchronous development — Why a gifted child might struggle in specific areas
✅ Guidance on next steps — Whether intervention, further assessment, or monitoring is needed

About the Service:

This service is provided by Julia - a Speech Pathologist with 16 years of clinical experience working across the full spectrum of communication and language profiles, including gifted and talented populations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Health Science (Speech Pathology) - USyd - 2009

• Master of Health Science (Developemental Disability) - Usyd - 2018

• Registered with Speech Pathology Australia as a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist

• Background in private practice, schools, and community health settings across Queensland and NSW

Service Delivery:

• Based in Sydney with in-person assessment available (Sydney metro)

• Telehealth assessment available Australia-wide

• Flexible scheduling including after-hours and weekend appointments

Ready to Get Started?

Limited availability — assessments are limited each month to ensure rigorous administration and thorough reporting.

Contact Julia for a free 15-minute phone consultation. We'll discuss your child's profile, your questions, and whether standardised language assessment is the appropriate next step.

📧 Julia@giftedspeech.com.au
📱 0407 493 366

How are 1-2 year olds assessed?
These assessments must occur face to face in the Sydney Metro area and an assessment called the Preschool Language Scale - 5th Edition is used along with other measures as necessary to evaluate each individual child.

Is this a formal test?
Yes. The CELF is a structured, standardised assessment administered according to specific protocols. It's not play-based or conversational — it's a formal evaluation that provides norm-referenced scores.

What will my child need to do?
Your child will complete a series of language tasks including answering questions, following directions, formulating sentences, recalling information, and other structured activities. Tasks are administered in a specific order using standardised materials and procedures.

Can you assess children who are anxious or neurodivergent?
Yes. I have extensive experience assessing children with anxiety, ADHD, autism, and other profiles. Accommodations are made within standardised protocol guidelines to support valid assessment.

What do the scores mean?
The CELF provides multiple types of scores:

• Scaled scores (mean 10, SD 3) for individual subtests

• Standard scores (mean 100, SD 15) for composite indexes

• Percentile ranks showing where your child sits compared to age peers

• Age equivalents showing the age level at which your child is functioning

All scores are explained clearly in the report and feedback session.

Will schools accept this assessment?
Yes. The CELF is widely recognised and accepted by schools, education systems, and other professionals. Reports are written to professional standards and include all necessary documentation for school planning.

Can this assessment diagnose giftedness?
This assessment measures language abilities, which are a key component of giftedness. The CELF provides objective data about verbal abilities, language processing, and communication skills. It's often used alongside cognitive assessment to build a complete profile.

What if the results show my child needs support?
If the assessment reveals language difficulties, the report will include specific recommendations. This may include speech pathology intervention, further assessment, or school-based support. I'll provide guidance on next steps and referrals as needed.

Can you do the assessment online?
Yes. The CELF can be administered via telehealth using secure video conferencing and adapted materials. Telehealth administration follows standardised protocols and provides valid, reliable results.

Do I need a Doctor Referral to book?

A referral is not necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions