Dyslexia Assessments

When Might a Dyslexia Assessment Be Helpful?

A dyslexia assessment can be helpful when a child, young person or adult is experiencing ongoing difficulties with learning, particularly in areas related to reading, writing or processing information.

You may wish to consider an assessment if your child or student:

• Is finding reading or spelling more difficult than expected for their age
• Reads slowly or with effort, or avoids reading tasks
• Has difficulty expressing ideas in writing
• Struggles to remember instructions, sequences or key information
• Takes longer than peers to complete written work or homework
• Finds it difficult to organise their work or manage tasks
• Appears to be working hard but not making expected progress
• Has a noticeable gap between their ability and attainment

An assessment can also be useful:

• When concerns have been raised by a teacher or SENCO
• Before important stages such as SATs, GCSEs or A Levels
• When applying for exam Access Arrangements
• To better understand how to support learning at home and in school

What does a dyslexia assessment help with?

A diagnostic assessment provides a clear understanding of strengths and areas of need, helping parents, schools and students put the right support in place and move forward with confidence.

The Assessment Process

Before the Assessment
Before the assessment, we will have a detailed discussion about your child to build an understanding of their strengths and areas of difficulty. Questionnaires will also be completed by parents, the child and their teacher to provide important background information.

The Assessment Session

Assessments usually take place at my home, although alternative arrangements can be discussed. I specialise in dyslexia assessments and use well-established tools to get a clear picture of your child’s strengths and areas where they may need extra support. After the assessment, you’ll receive a detailed report with practical recommendations to help with learning at home, in school, and beyond.

The session includes fun and interactive activities that cover areas such as reading, spelling, writing, memory, processing, and overall abilities. The assessment typically takes about three hours, but if needed, we can split it into shorter sessions. I also provide regular breaks to ensure your child remains comfortable and relaxed throughout.

After the Assessment
A detailed report is provided within two weeks. Where appropriate, this will confirm a diagnosis of dyslexia, outline strengths and areas of difficulty, and include practical recommendations to support learning at home and in school. A follow-up call is included to discuss the findings and next steps.

If Dyslexia Is Not Identified
If dyslexia is not indicated, a full report is still provided, including recommendations and guidance to support your child and, where appropriate, suggestions for further support.

If you would like to discuss whether a diagnostic dyslexia assessment would be appropriate, please feel free to get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.

What a Comprehensive Assessment Report Includes

A comprehensive assessment report will include:

A clear overview of the assessment findings, including a concise 2–3 page summary designed for easy sharing with SENCOs, teachers and other professionals, alongside a full, detailed report.
Background information gathered from parents, school and the learner to understand their experiences and learning history.
Interpretation of assessment results, explaining how your child’s strengths and areas of difficulty relate to the thinking and learning processes associated with dyslexia and effective learning.
Exploration of key cognitive and learning areas, such as phonological skills, working memory, processing speed, general thinking skills and literacy attainment (reading, spelling and writing). Additional areas may be explored if relevant to your child’s profile.
A table of standardised scores, clearly presented for easy sharing with the school and to support ongoing provision.
Individualised recommendations offering practical, tailored strategies to support learning at school, at home and within specialist teaching or intervention sessions.
Guidance on exam access arrangements where appropriate, based on the assessment evidence.
Suggestions for onward referrals if further investigation or support from other professionals may be beneficial, such as speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.
A list of the assessments used, with a brief explanation of what each one measures.
A clear diagnostic conclusion — or, where a diagnosis is not appropriate, a detailed profile of strengths and needs with practical next steps and guidance.

In some cases, it may not be appropriate to reach a clear diagnosis of dyslexia. However, the report will always provide a detailed profile of strengths and needs, alongside practical recommendations to support learning and development. Where appropriate, guidance regarding additional professionals or services, such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy or behavioural optometry, may also be provided.

When Might a Dyslexia Screening Assessment Be Helpful?

A screening assessment can be a helpful first step if you are concerned that your child may be showing signs of dyslexia but are unsure whether a full diagnostic assessment is needed. Screening is a shorter, informal assessment that looks at key areas such as reading, spelling, memory and processing skills.

It provides an indication of whether a learner may have dyslexic traits and highlights any areas where additional support may be beneficial. Following the screening, you will receive clear feedback and guidance, including whether a full diagnostic assessment is recommended. This can help you feel more confident about the next steps. A screening assessment is particularly useful if:

You are noticing ongoing difficulties with reading, writing or spelling
Your child is working hard but not making expected progress
You would like an initial understanding before committing to a full assessment

While screening does not provide a formal diagnosis, it can offer valuable insight and help you decide how best to support your child moving forward.

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Screening vs Full Diagnostic Assessment

Dyslexia Screening Assessment

A shorter assessment to identify possible dyslexic traits
Provides an initial indication of strengths and areas of difficulty
Helpful as a first step if you are unsure whether a full assessment is needed
A dyslexia screener, including a short report, costs £90.

Full Diagnostic Assessment

A comprehensive assessment using standardised tests
Provides a detailed profile of strengths and areas of need
Can confirm a formal diagnosis of dyslexia (where appropriate)
Includes a written report with clear recommendations
Can support applications for exam Access Arrangements
A full diagnostic assessment and comprehensive report with recommendations costs £850.