When to have an assessment
An assessment will support a student's learning at all stages of college or university. The report can be used to support an application for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA). To find out more go to https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/overview.
Assessment with an Educational Psychologist
Educational Psychologists are trained to
assess for dyslexia in individuals who appear to have a more complex range of possible
learning differences, such as Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and significant mental health
issues. Their professional training allows them to use cognitive ability and
attainment tests which are not open to Specialist Assessors.
Educational
Psychologists cannot diagnose Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), as these are
medical conditions and require assessment by the appropriate health
professionals.
An Educational Psychologist's report will
include a diagnosis of dyslexia, if appropriate. It will include recommendations for reasonable adjustments, assistive technology and exam access arrangements. It will provide information which helps inform decisions
about educational provision, according to the complexities of a student’s learning needs.
What happens in an assessment
Our assessments are interactive
with some practical tasks which explore a learner’s memory and processing
skills, as well as reading and writing.
The assessment will explore a student’s:
-
verbal and non-verbal reasoning
skills.
-
cognitive processing skills, e.g.
memory, phonological awareness and speed of phonological processing.
-
reading, writing and spelling
skills.
-
characteristic features of
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)/Dyspraxia, and Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), if appropriate.
Maths skills will not usually be
investigated during this assessment.
Assessments take place in a quiet room, free of distractions. There is a short break during the assessment.
Assessments can also take place online.
The assessment report
All assessments allow time after the assessment for discussion. A comprehensive report will be
provided within three weeks of the assessment. The report will include:
-
an Overview section
which summarises your cognitive profile and the impact any cognitive difficulties may have on your learning. It will include a diagnosis of dyslexia if this is
supported by the assessment. Please note that it is not always possible to diagnose dyslexia.
- identification of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)/Dyspraxia, and the patterns of behaviour and learning difficulties which are the characteristic features of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), if appropriate.
-
a summary of background
information from you, including a history of support at school.
-
detailed interpretation of test
results.
- essential recommendations for
support in the learning environment and strategies you can develop for your
learning, including exam access arrangements, if appropriate.
-
further referral on to other
professionals, such as an Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language
Therapist, if necessary.
Fee
Assessments cost £962. We ask that this is paid in full before the assessment.
*** £30 discount (£669) for an online assessment for a limited time only (booking enquiries submitted between 10th March and 30th April) ***
If you need to pay this in instalments, please let us know and we can book further in advance in order to allow sufficient time to make these payments.
A proportion of the fee
that you pay helps us to provide subsidised assessments to lower-income
families. This prevents people from being excluded from getting the help they need. Thank
you very much for your help and support.
Please note that when making an enquiry, there is the option for anyone to request bursary support.
Our Educational Psychologists
Our Educational Psychologists are
registered with The Health and Care Professions Council (HADC). Therefore, all
our reports can be used for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) purposes in the
future. Each of our Educational Psychologists holds a current Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Our Educational Psychologists
cannot diagnose Autism or ADHD, as these are medical conditions and require
assessment by the appropriate health professionals.
Information we will need
If you do make an enquiry for this kind of assessment, we will ask you to complete a/some Questionnaire(s).
If you are younger than 18, please complete the Family Questionnaire and the Year 9-13 Questionnaire.
If you are 18 or over, please complete the Adult Questionnaire.
If English is not your first language
You
will need to have lived in an English-speaking country and have been speaking
English for a minimum of seven years before you can be assessed for dyslexia.
You will also need to be able to read, write and spell in English. The tests we
use to assess for dyslexia rely on having well-developed English-speaking
skills and understanding of an English-speaking culture. If you have not lived
in an English-speaking country and have not spoken English regularly for a
minimum of seven years before the assessment, the assessment will not be valid.
