We offer diagnostic assessments for difficulties in mathematics and dyscalculia up to the age of 18.

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty whose core feature is a significant and persistent difficulty with numerical magnitude processing, which means difficulties with:

·         Understanding and comparing quantities

·         Estimating and place value

·         Naming, ordering, and manipulating numbers

A Specific Learning Difficulty in Mathematics is a significant and persistent difficulty in maths due to other cognitive factors, such as:

·         Difficulties in working memory (verbal or visual)

·         Difficulties with sequencing or attention

·         Language-based barriers to mathematical understanding

·         Visual-spatial processing challenges

Both conditions are lifelong and can vary in presentation and severity. They often co-exist with other developmental differences such as ADHD, dyslexia, developmental language disorder (DLD), and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). 

Our assessments are interactive with practical tasks which explore a learner’s processing skills and memory, as well as their maths skills.  The assessment would include:

Assessments can take up to four hours. They take place in a quiet room, free of distractions. There is a short break during the assessment. Parents may be required to wait on site.

These assessments can only take place face to face; they cannot be conducted online.

A detailed report will be provided within three weeks of the assessment.  The report will include:

·         a diagnosis of difficulties in mathematics or dyscalculia, if this is supported by the assessment. An assessment does not always give sufficient evidence to make a diagnosis

·         a description of learner’s strengths and difficulties

·         recommendations for support at home and in the classroom

An assessment costs £699.  This must be 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. 

For those most in need, bursary applications can be made when submitting a booking enquiry form.  Please note that bursary applications can only be submitted when this service is open (i.e. when funding is available).

Our Specialist Assessors hold a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) approved by the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC). Therefore, our reports will be accepted as evidence for funded support at university (Disabled Students' Allowance) in the future. All our Specialist Assessors hold a current Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

To assess for Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) in mathematics and dyscalculia our professionals hold an additional qualification to assess and teach learners with dyscalculia and difficulties in mathematics.

Our assessors cannot diagnose Autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as these are medical conditions and require assessment by the appropriate health professionals.

·         a completed Family Questionnaire

·         a completed a School Questionnaire from your school. We will give you clear instructions on how to ask your school to do this once your booking enquiry has been submitted

·         a completed a Year 9-13 Questionnaire (if your child is about to start or is taking their GCSE or A Level courses)

·         any previous reports (e.g. Speech and Language, EHCP etc) uploaded to your enquiry page

A learner needs to have lived in an English-speaking country and have been speaking English for several years before they can be assessed for difficulties in mathematics and dyscalculia. They also need to be receiving their education in English. The tests we use to assess rely on having well-developed English-speaking skills and understanding of an English-speaking culture. If they have not lived in an English-speaking country and have not spoken English regularly for several years before the assessment, the assessment will not be valid.

Before we assess for mathematics difficulties and dyscalculia, we need to understand whether  visual difficulties which may be the cause of maths difficulties. You will be asked questions in the Family Questionnaire about this and may need to speak to an optometrist (who conducts an eye test) before we can arrange assessment with us. Visual difficulties are separate to mathematics difficulties and dyscalculia.