Frequently Asked Questions

What age do you assess from?

Current best practice is for a child to have undergone intervention support before considering whether they have a formal diagnosis of dyslexia. Children develop their literacy skills at different rates and a slower rate does not necessarily mean it is dyslexia. Therefore, I assess from age 8, once the child has had access to relevant support to try and close the gaps in their learning.

What happens before an assessment?

After an initial chat, the Visual History and Visual Difficulties Questionnaires will need to be completed to help rule out vision-related factors unrelated to dyslexia.

It is essential that your child has had an eye test in the past 24 months.

If your child is experiencing visual difficulties that may not have been identified during a standard eye test, it is advisable to arrange an eye examination with an optometrist before proceeding with the dyslexia assessment. Please refer to the Visual Questionnaires. If your child answers 'yes' to any of the questions in the VDQ, please arrange an appointment with a high-street optometrist, even if they have had a recent eye test. The optometrist will be able to check your child’s vision and may recommend further specialist investigation if this is considered necessary.

Once confirmed that your child does not have any visual difficulties that are impacting learning, I will confirm your booking and send some background questionnaires via email to collect information from your child's family and school. An additional discussion may be required to gain a clear picture of the information provided within the questionnaires.

Before the assessment process begins, please take a moment to familiarise yourself with my Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Where does the assessment/tuition take place?

I can go to your child’s school, if they will have me, or to your home if there is a suitable space available. All I need is a quiet space with a table. Depending on location, this may incur an additional charge of £0.45 per mile unless otherwise stated to cover time and travel expenses.

What happens during an assessment?

Depending on the age and needs of your child, the assessment takes approximately 3 to 4 hours, including breaks, during a morning when they feel fresher. As an assessor, teacher and parent, I understand that the unknown situation may cause anxiety. Time is taken to establish a positive relationship before any formal testing begins. The assessment is then carried out using a calm, friendly, and supportive approach, helping your child feel comfortable and confident to do their best.

Your child will take part in a range of structured activities designed to explore how they learn and process information. These tasks look at areas such as reading, spelling, writing, memory, processing speed, phonological awareness and language skills. The activities are carefully selected to identify both strengths and any difficulties associated with dyslexia.

Parents must stay out of sight for an assessment and will not be able to contribute in any way.

What happens after an assessment?

After the assessment, I will take some time to review all the evidence from the background questionnaires and the assessment day. I will then inform you of the outcome. You will receive a detailed 25–30 page report within 15 working days. An optional telephone consultation will also be offered to discuss the results of the assessment in more detail.

The report will clearly state whether a diagnosis of dyslexia has been given or not, and the reasons supporting this decision. The report will include a detailed recommendations section that will provide suggestions and ideas to support better progress for both home and school. If there are additional concerns that arise from the assessment, I will make suggestions as to the possible benefit of further investigation.

What if the assessment results in a ‘not dyslexic’ diagnosis?

Having a private assessment does not guarantee a dyslexia diagnosis. However, I will still be able to identify your child’s strengths and difficulties, which will be helpful for everyone as it will facilitate a better understanding of learning needs. If necessary, I will also provide further advice, including recommendations for referrals to other professionals.

How much is specialist tuition / a dyslexia assessment?

Each 1 hour specialist tuition lesson costs £60. After an initial session to identify learning needs, it is preferable to book in six week blocks to ensure continuity of learning. A 10% discount will be applied to block bookings of 6 lessons (£324).

A full diagnostic dyslexia assessment and comprehensive report costs £550.