Dyslexia Teaching Centre - Assessments Overview

An educational assessment can be a positive, rewarding experience for all involved, especially the child who is at the heart of the assessment process.

We understand that deciding to have your child assessed can be a daunting decision. We are here to support you with any questions or concerns you have and we take you through the process step-by-step.

When to have an assessment

If you, or the school, has concerns about your child's progress in reading and writing, an assessment may be appropriate. We offer full diagnostic dyslexia assessments from age 8 upwards. If your child is younger, we recommend a non-diagnostic literacy assessment.

What assessments we offer

Full diagnostic dyslexia assessments (8 years old to 16 years old)
Literacy assessments (under 8 years old)
Numeracy assessments ( 5 years +)

What happens during the assessment

Assessments, which are administered by our specialist assessor, takes place in our quiet, peaceful centre within the grounds of the old Heythrop College, Kensington Square.

Our assessments are interactive which explore your child's underlying cognitive and literacy skills.

A full assessment will explore:

verbal and non-verbal reasoning
cognitive processing skills e.g. phonological awareness, phonological processing, memory
reading e.g. reading fluency and comprehension skills
spelling
writing skills

Please note that a full diagnostic assessment does not always lead to a diagnosis of dyslexia.

The assessment report

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

The report will include:

an introductory section which summarises your child's cognitive profile. It will include a diagnosis of dyslexia if this is supported by the assessment.
a summary of background information provided by home and school
a breakdown on the test results with a detailed interpretation
bespoke, personal recommendations for support at home and at school
Onward referrals to other professionals such as an Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language Therapist, if appropriate

These reports can be used to support an application for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) at university in the future.

Our Specialist Assessors

Our highly qualified and experienced specialist assessor holds a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) approved by the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC).

Please note that our specialist assessor administers cognitive assessments. This does not include a diagnose of Autism (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These are medical conditions and require assessment by the appropriate health professionals. We work with affiliated clinical psychologists and psychiatrists and are happy to advise onward referrals, if appropriate.

Pre-assessment information we will need

For all assessments, we will ask you to complete a Family Questionnaire, which must be completed with accurate information and as much detail as possible. Pre-assessment information gathering is a key part of the process, which provides valuable information to inform the assessment.

Family Questionnaire

We will also ask your child's school to complete a School Questionnaire, which we will send directly to the school. We will also request any previous reports conducted by professionals (e.g. Occupational Therapy reports).

Visual Difficulties

We require all children to have had a sight test within the two years before an assessment takes place. This is to make sure a visual issue is not the underlying cause of any literacy difficulties. If the pre-assessment information you provide suggests that your child has visual difficulties, which impacts learning, we may recommend a referral to a behavioural optometrist.

English as an Additional Language

It is important that a child has lived in an English-speaking country and has been speaking English for several years before they can be assessed for dyslexia. An understanding of English, as a spoken language, is key when assessing for dyslexia.

The assessment will not be valid if your child has not spoken English regularly for several years.

We are here to listen and support you through the assessment process. We will happily answer any of your questions.

For all assessment enquiries, please contact the centre on 075 9221 2375 or Email us