Fees
Initial Consultation & Assessment £150
(Lasts up to an hour and includes a short report)
Review appointment with report £80
(Lasts up to an hour and includes a short report)
Detailed Assessment/Re-assessment £210
(Normally lasts between 1.5-2 hours. This is the time spent with the child and parent or teacher. The fee also includes detailed analysis of any formal assessments, language samples and observations carried out at the assessment session, and the writing of a detailed report)
Full Sensory Assessment £500
Lasts between 1-2 hours and includes observation forms for parents and schools/nursery. This is the time spent with the child and parent or teacher completing a formalised assessment and observation.
The fee also includes a detailed analysis of formal assessments, information from parents/schools and observations carried out in session and the writing of a detailed report.
Special Circumstances
In certain circumstances (e.g. complex cases) detailed assessments may last longer, or further assessment sessions may be recommended (e.g. a school or nursery visit). Additional hours spent are charged at £70 per hour and will always be discussed with the parent/carer in advance.
Accurate diagnosis is essential for planning appropriate therapy. Formal assessments are standardised and objective. My diagnosis will be based on these assessments whenever they are used. My findings may differ from the expectations of parents or carers and I may not tell you anything new. Therapy is usually effective but cannot be guaranteed.
Standard Therapy Session £80
(Minimum Charge)
A standard therapy session normally lasts 45 minutes (attention dependent). A 40-minute session, this is the time spent with the child/parents or teachers with 5 minutes of feedback/discussion. The fee also includes 15 minutes spent outside the consultation in preparation of material, planning, and liaising with parents and professionals. Longer sessions will be charged, after the first hour, at £45 per 30 minute block of extra time spent. This again will be discussed with parents/carers in advance. It is often difficult to estimate the exact number of sessions of therapy that will be necessary. It is my usual practice to offer a pre-agreed number of treatment sessions, either 6 or 10 or rolling, with an opportunity to review management options with you at the end of that period. Parents are free to withdraw a child from therapy at any time. Equally, if I feel that therapy is at any time not being effective, then I will discuss this with you and may recommend that we stop.
Terms and Conditions
Attendance at Case Conferences, Multi-Disciplinary Meetings and Other Related Discussions
Meetings will be charged at £80 for the first hour (or part hour), plus travel (see below). An hour is usually sufficient time but if the session takes considerably longer then an additional pro rata charge may be incurred. Meetings must always be agreed in advance with an agenda provided unless organised by myself. Meetings cannot be substituted for therapy sessions unless arranged in advance. If a short notice meeting is requested i.e. in place of a therapy session, this cannot be the same day.
Reports, EHCPS and Written Documentation
As from January 2024 any input regarding written documentation including additional reports, observations, EHCP input etc. will be charged at £80 per hour. Please note that due to the complexity and requirements of some of the requested documents it may take up to 10 days for each request submitted.
School/ Nursery Visits
Teachers often request school/nursery visits. Such visits are only made with parental agreement. These will be charged at £80 for the first hour (or part hour) plus travel. Once again, an hour is usually sufficient time; but if the session takes considerably longer, an additional pro rata charge may be incurred as above. Therapy undertaken in school on a regular basis is charged at the standard rate, plus travel.
Where home activities are provided, it is the responsibility of the parents/carers to ensure that the therapy materials are sent back on the appropriate day, and for informing me if their child will be absent from school.
Parents/carers are encouraged to come to school-based sessions by arrangement with the school and myself. They can also telephone me at my clinic to discuss progress and/or any concerns or queries they may have. I am often working away from my base during the day, but any messages left will be responded to as soon as possible.
Training
Talks, workshops and training sessions for groups of parents and professionals can be arranged. Prices will be provided on request.
Travel
Travelling for domiciliary, school, and other visits is non chargeable up to 20 minutes journey time. Thereafter travel up to an hour will be calculated at 50p per mile.
Payment
Fees for all assessments must be paid on receipt of invoice for reports to be released.
Invoices for therapy are normally sent out at the end of each month. If you would like to pay more frequently then please let me know. For school-based therapy, arrangements can be made for invoices to be sent on a half-termly or termly basis. Please discuss this with me if this is how you would prefer to pay. Payment is expected within 10 days of presentation of the invoice and should be paid by BACS.
Parents/carers using private health insurance are responsible for settling the invoice and then claiming from the insurer concerned. It is advisable to check the level and nature of your cover with the insurer before agreeing to therapy.
Late Payments
As of January 2024, all invoices will continue to receive a 10 day payment window however if no payment Is received in this time, an automatic reminder email will be sent on the final day allowing the recipient an additional 48 hours to pay their invoice. If no payment is received following a total of 12 days and no contact has been made with the Therapist, a late payment fee of £10 per day will incur until payment is received. This late payment fee will be added to your next invoice.
If two late payments are incurred without explanation, therapy with The Alexandra Speech Clinic will be terminated and remaining sessions will be cancelled with immediate effect.
Cancellation policy
It is the responsibility of parents to ensure, when possible, a minimum of 24 hours notice of cancellation for your appointment is given. Failed appointments will be charged at the rate for standard sessions.
If your child is seen in school and you do not inform the Therapist your child is absent or the school is closed resulting in the Therapist still attending your appointment, you will still be charged.
If more than two consecutive sessions are cancelled, clients may forfeit their therapy block and remaining sessions cancelled.
Liaison
It is important for your child’s care that liaison with other professionals involved with his/her learning and development is carried out. All reports will be sent to the parents or carers who have initiated the assessment for them to distribute. If a school commissions a report directly with me then the report will be sent to them and it will be at their discretion to share the report with you. I strongly recommend to families that they keep everyone involved in their child’s care and development informed. My professional standards require good liaison and it is good practice, where both an independent and an NHS therapist are involved, for them to work together collaboratively to maximise opportunities for effective therapy to take place. This is also true where there are other professionals involved as well. I am always happy to discuss this and any related concerns with parents.
Liaison regarding session times, logistics, fees and payment will be held with parents only. Only once agreement regarding session timings has been confirmed will school/nursery be contacted.
Updated 29/11/2024