Nine questions to ask any provider.
Before you pay anyone. Ask them of us too.
Support for a child who learns differently is expensive, mostly paid out of your own pocket, and sold in a market where almost nobody publishes a price. You are allowed to ask hard questions. Here are nine. Ask them of us too.
1. Who will work with my child, and will it be the same person?
Staff turnover is the quiet reason many programmes stall.
Us: the same facilitator every session.
2. What is the full cost, and what gets added later?
Ask whether supervision is billed separately. Often it appears after you have signed.
Us: one flat hourly rate, supervision included. Nothing added later.
3. How will I know it is working?
If nobody is showing you data, nobody is collecting it.
Us: a report after every session. A review every month.
4. Who supervises the person in my home?
Us: a named supervisor, every week.
5. What happens when my child says no?
Listen for the word "assent".
Us: we stop, we read the reason, and the plan changes.
6. How do you work with my child's school and therapists?
Us: we work towards their goals and report back at six weeks.
7. What checks has this person had?
Police clearance, the child-protection register and the sex-offender register. Ask to see them.
Us: all three, before a first session.
8. What are you not able to do?
Every honest provider has a limit.
Us: we do not diagnose, and we do not treat. We provide learning support.
9. What happens if I want to stop?
Us: one calendar month's notice, either way.
Anyone worth paying will welcome these questions.
Want to talk about your child?
The first consultation is free.
