About us

Our assessment process follows the NICE guidelines. An assessment will include a parent interview (3di5/ADI-R) and child facing (ADOS-2) session. During these sessions additional assessments (e.g. psychological, sensory, functional, and communication based) may be selected to explore the key factors in each case to have a holistic view of the child/young person. Our clinicians have a wide range of experience working with children, young people and their families with different needs in the public and private sectors. They have a passion and special interest in the fields of neurodiversity and autism. In addition to this they are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), have been DBS checked and have had safeguarding training.

The Gesher Assessment Centre has been made possible thanks to the Rosetrees Trust.

The Gesher Assessment Centre and the school have been set up by the same founding team, which includes parents of children with different educational needs.

Our connection means we can listen and respond to the experiences and needs of our parents, caregivers, children and young people. We know about the stress and anxiety around the long wait for assessment and then a diagnosis. We know that timely support makes a huge difference to everyone’s experience.

Having an assessment at the Gesher Assessment Centre does not in any way increase your child’s chance of being offered a place at Gesher School. Similarly, if your child attends Gesher School you will need to follow the same process as others to book a triage call and to start the diagnostic assessment journey with the Gesher Assessment Centre.

Should you wish to apply to Gesher School, your application will be dealt with through a completely separate process which you can find on the Gesher School website.

Hi, my name is Leandri, and I am originally from South Africa, where I completed my Occupational Therapy degree and Ayres Sensory Integration training.

I am passionate about helping children with special needs and their families understand and overcome challenges to live a fulfilled life. This passion has been the drive behind learning and specialising within the Autism field, where I enjoy working with neurodiverse children.

I have been doing this for over 13 years in South Africa and the UK in various settings, including special needs schools and private health clinics. I am excited to lead the Gesher Assessment Centre with the right team on board and use our skills and experience to support parents and children along their journey. 

Hi, my name is Dr Naomi Coleman. I’m a Registered and Chartered Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience specialising with children, young people and families to enhance psychological well-being. My passion for supporting neurodiverse young people and families has arisen from working across Local Authorities, NHS, schools and the independent sector and seeing the challenges facing families today, particularly around accessing timely and compassionate assessment and support.  

I studied Neuroscience at Sussex University, shaping my understanding of the links between the brain, personal experience, emotional well-being and behaviour. I have a Masters in Educational Psychology with a specialist focus on child development, education strategies and individual learning styles. My research explored levels of social communication skills in Autism. My Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology focused on understanding mental health difficulties within individual and social contexts to help manage psychological distress.

Throughout my career, I have gained specialist experience in assessing and diagnosing Autism and ADHD. I am a keen advocate for promoting emotional health within families and communities.  

I’m excited to join the Gesher Assessment Centre to deliver high-quality assessments tailored to individual needs while growing the support available to the wider community.

Hi, my name is Nikki, and I am a speech and language therapist with over 12 years of experience. Through my roles, I have developed specialist expertise in autism. I have worked with children and young people aged 1-19+ years with an autism diagnosis and other related needs, including social, emotional and mental health needs and ADHD. I have worked in various settings, including nurseries, primary, secondary and special schools, children’s centres, family homes, hospitals, an orphanage and diagnostic clinics within the NHS and private services. Within my roles, I have provided assessment, intervention, advice and training for staff and families and support in areas such as access to learning, emotional regulation and social, emotional and mental health. I have worked within the UK, Cambodia and Australia and have been privileged to volunteer for several organisations working with children and adults who have presented with various needs, including autism, and their families. 

Supporting children, young people and families through the diagnosis process is essential to them understanding their strengths, needs and self-identity better. I am passionate about providing support to autistic individuals and their families. I am committed to promoting neurodiversity-affirming practices and supporting self-advocacy with my clients and families. I believe it is vital to involve young people in the processes and decisions around their care and listen to autistic voices. I am keen to start supporting children and young people through the Gesher Assessment Centre to develop their understanding of themselves and their strengths and needs, to develop their confidence and to help them achieve their maximum potential in life.