When to have an assessment
An assessment will support a student's learning at all stages of college or university. The report will include recommendations for reasonable adjustments, assistive technology and exam access arrangements. A 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.
What happens in an assessment
Our assessments are interactive with practical tasks which explore a student's memory and processing skills, as well as their reading, spelling and writing skills.
An assessment will explore:
- verbal and non-verbal reasoning
- cognitive processing skills e.g. memory, phonological awareness and speed of phonological processing
- reading, spelling and writing 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 can take up to three hours. They 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 detailed report will be provided within three weeks of the assessment. The report will include:
- an Overview section which summarises a student's cognitive profile, their strengths and the impact any cognitive difficulties may have on their 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 characteristic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), if appropriate.
- a summary of background information provided by you, including a history of support you have received.
- detailed interpretation of test results.
- recommendations for support in the learning environment and strategies you can develop for your learning, including exam access arrangements, if appropriate.
- further referral to other professionals such as an Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language Therapist, if appropriate.
Fee
Assessments cost £699. We ask that this is paid in full before the assessment.
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 Specialist Assessors
Our Specialist Assessors are required to hold a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) approved by the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC). Therefore, these reports can be used to support an application for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). Each of our Specialist Assessors holds a current Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Our Specialist Assessors cannot diagnose Autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (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.
