The Comprehensive Age Assessment Interview Template is a 50-page working document for practitioners carrying out age assessments of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and age-disputed young people in England and Wales. It structures a full two-day Merton-compliant assessment — from pre-interview evidence gathering through to delivering and recording the conclusion.
This is not a question list. It is a document you complete. Recording fields sit beneath every section, so contemporaneous notes, observations and the young person's own words are captured as you go, in a format that stands up to scrutiny from a legal representative or the Upper Tribunal.
A Merton-compliant age assessment — the standard established in B v London Borough of Merton [2003] EWHC 1689 (Admin) — requires two trained assessors, evidence drawn from beyond the interview itself, a fair "minded to" opportunity for the young person to answer concerns before any decision is made, holistic reasoning that does not rest on physical appearance, and the benefit of the doubt where evidence is finely balanced. This template is built around those requirements, section by section.
What you get
365 ready-to-ask interview prompts across 12 sections, written in plain, interpreter-friendly language
186 checklist and guidance points covering preparation, safeguarding, professional standards and analysis
74 built-in recording fields for responses, observations and reasoning
A structured pre-interview evidence checklist — Home Office screening records, PIQ, previous assessments, foster carer and education provider observations, country and education-system research
A chronology and age-anchoring worksheet for triangulating a claimed age against school stages, sibling birth order and independently dateable events
A calendar conversion reference covering the Ethiopian, Solar Hijri, lunar Hijri, Bikram Sambat and Bengali calendars, with guidance on the conversion errors that manufacture false inconsistencies
A full "minded to" framework, positioned after all evidence gathering and after the assessors' analysis, with prompts for putting concerns fairly and recording responses verbatim
Sign-off and evidence log appendices designed to be reproduced as annexes to an assessment or independent report
Fully editable Word (.docx) — adapt to your local authority's requirements, print or complete on screen
What it covers
Identity and how the young person knows their age · departure and migration journey · family and living arrangements · daily life and responsibilities · education in depth, with an education-system cross-check · social life and independence · current circumstances and support · technology and daily living skills · health, wellbeing and trafficking indicators · previous accounts and earlier age decisions · chronology building · analysis, "minded to" and conclusion · observation and documentation standards.
Written for current practice
The template reflects the legal and policy landscape as it stands in 2026, including the National Age Assessment Board and assessments under sections 50 and 51 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, the Home Office "significantly over 18" threshold for initial decisions at the border, and the Upper Tribunal's confirmation that no special weight attaches to NAAB assessments and that the benefit of the doubt applies whichever body assesses.
It also reflects where practice has moved on. Intrusive questions about puberty and physical development are deliberately excluded. Observations that stray into quasi-medical territory are not recommended. Social media use is framed as context, not as an age indicator. Each of these positions is explained in the document, so you know why — and can defend the approach if asked.
Who it's for
Local authority social workers conducting age assessments under Children Act 1989 duties or sections 50 and 51 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022
Independent social workers and independent age assessors instructed by solicitors, guardians or advocacy organisations
Practitioners preparing evidence for Upper Tribunal age assessment appeals and judicial review proceedings
Team managers, QA leads and trainers quality-assuring or teaching age assessment practice
Legal teams working with unaccompanied children and age-disputed young people
A dedicated section addresses the practical differences for independent assessors: how evidence gathering runs through the instructing solicitor, what to obtain when reviewing an existing assessment, and how to record independence and the limits of your own evidence base.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Merton-compliant age assessment? It is an age assessment that meets the standard set out in B v London Borough of Merton [2003] EWHC 1689 (Admin) and the case law that has followed. In summary it requires two suitably trained assessors, an inquisitorial rather than adversarial approach, evidence gathered from beyond the interview itself, a genuine "minded to" opportunity for the young person to answer any adverse points before a decision is made, holistic reasoning that does not rely on appearance or isolated inconsistencies, adequate reasons given, and the benefit of the doubt where the evidence is finely balanced.
Is this template suitable for independent assessors as well as local authority social workers? Yes. The same Merton standard applies to both. The template includes a dedicated section on how the process differs in practice when you are instructed rather than employed, and the appendices are designed to be reproduced as annexes to an independent report.
How long does the assessment take? The template sets out a two-day structure of roughly five hours' interviewing per day, with scheduled breaks, followed by assessor analysis, a "minded to" discussion where required, and the conclusion. It also includes guidance on when a third day is appropriate and how to arrange it.
Do I have to ask every question? No, and you shouldn't. The template is explicit that it is a set of prompts rather than a script, and that courts have been critical of mechanistic, tick-box assessments. The value is in making sure nothing is missed and everything is recorded.
What format is it supplied in? Editable Microsoft Word (.docx), so you can adapt it to your local authority's requirements, add your own branding, and complete it on screen or in print.
Does it cover the National Age Assessment Board? Yes. The template explains where NAAB assessments under section 50 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 sit alongside local authority duties, that referral is voluntary for local authorities, and that the Upper Tribunal has held no special weight attaches to NAAB conclusions.
Is this legal advice? No. It is a practice aid. It does not replace the ADCS Age Assessment Guidance, the Home Office and ADCS Joint Working Guidance, your local authority's own procedures, or legal advice on an individual case. A references appendix lists the key sources with a currency warning, as guidance in this area is revised frequently.
Does it apply in Scotland? The template is written for England and Wales. Scotland has separate practice guidance issued by the Scottish Government, and practitioners there should follow that guidance.
Licence and delivery
Single-user licence. You may use and edit this template for your own professional work. You may not share, resell, publish or redistribute the file or any derivative work outside your own use. For team or organisation use, please contact us for an organisation licence.
Instant digital download. By purchasing, you consent to immediate access and acknowledge that the right to cancel is lost once downloading starts.
Version 2.0, issued July 2026. Review date July 2027.
