Podcast 74 What Schools Mean By “Testing” — And Why It Often Doesn’t Fit Our Neurodivergent Kids

Send us Fan MailEpisode Title: What Schools Mean By “Testing” — And Why It Often Doesn’t Fit Our Neurodivergent KidsYou sit in a school meeting and hear the words:“We’ve completed testing.”And suddenly your mind races.Is my child behind? Did they fail? Is this autism? ADHD? A learning disability? Why doesn’t this report even sound like my child?In this episode, we unpack one of the biggest sources of parent–school misunderstanding: assessment.Most families think schools use one type of testing — but in reality, schools use four completely different kinds, and they do not tell you the same information. For neurodivergent children especially, this difference matters enormously.We break down — in plain language — what each assessment actually measures: • standardised testing (like NAPLAN) • norm-referenced percentile scores • classroom observations and work samples • criterion-referenced learning assessmentsYou’ll learn why many neurodivergent students appear “below average” on reports even when they are learning, how anxiety and regulation affect performance, and why ranking data often tells teachers very little about how to actually teach your child.We also give parents and teachers practical questions to ask in meetings so the conversation shifts from comparison → instruction.Because a number is not a learning plan.This episode is essential for:parents of autistic, ADHD, anxious and learning-different childrenclassroom teachers trying to understand assessment reportssupport staff writing IEPs and learning goalsYour child is not an average. They are a learner with a profile — and once schools plan from strengths instead of percentiles, real progress begins.For more advice, support, to book a consultation or to find out more information please visit:The Neurodiverse Education Hub WebsiteYou can also purchase our e-book from the website:e-book - Navigating Education: A Parent's Guide to Choosing the Right Primary School for your Neurodivergent Childand ourFree Brochure - Transitioning from Kindergarten to Primary School for your Neurodivergent ChildVisit's The Neurodiverse Education Hub's Website  for information on the following:Work With Me - Individual Education Plans (IEP's), Play Skills, Online TutoringWebinars Social MediaBooksFree Podcast PDF's