Why assess?
You may feel that something is not quite right - parental instinct is powerful and, in my experience, rarely wrong.
Comments I frequently hear from parents are:
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They're so capable verbally, but they just cannot get it down on paper
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They hate to read out loud
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It takes so many attempts for something to stick
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They find phonics and/or spelling so hard
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They are just exhausted after a day at school
This list is not exhaustive, and no two cases of dyslexia will be the same, so not all statements will apply to all children.
An assessment will give a full picture of a child's learning strengths and weaknesses, and a consideration of whether a child is dyslexic. Most importantly, the report will make practical suggestions about how a child's strengths can be used to move their learning forward.
What does the assessment involve?
Before the assessment I will send you questionnaires for both home and school. These help me to build up a picture of the child's history and school experience.
The assessment lasts about three hours and will take place either at my house in Otford, your child's school or at your house (as long as it's within 10 miles of Otford). If it is to take place at your child's school or at your house, a quiet room will be needed where we can work.
The assessment consists of a variety of tests that look at the following core areas (other aspects may be included depending on the child):
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Underlying Ability Both verbal and non-verbal tests are used to get a picture of your child's underlying ability.
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Attainment Tests for a Dyslexia Assessment Single word reading, passage reading, reading speed, reading comprehension and phonetic decoding, as well as spelling, writing speed, composition and handwriting.
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Attainment tests for a Dyscalculia Assessment Tests of attainment in number, as well as informal tests of aspects including counting and place value.
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Diagnostic Tests I look at the cognitive processes of memory and phonological processing (phonological awareness and phonological processing speed) to see if there is an explanation in these areas for any difficulties that may be occurring. For a dyscalculia assessment I also carry out tests of number sense.
At the end of the assessment, I will chat over key findings with you to enable you to better understand the report when it is sent through.
All the tests I use are recommended for their reliability and validity.
Following the assessment, I will compile a report which focuses on how your child tackled the tasks and builds a profile of strengths and weaknesses, as well as identifying possible additional factors impacting your child's learning. These are then used to make recommendations.
I aim to have this completed within two working weeks of the assessment. Results are confidential and will not be discussed with a child's school unless you have given permission.
Fiona was extremely helpful from the start when I wanted advice on my son's learning and possible Dyslexia. My son felt very comfortable with the process and with getting his diagnosis. The report was fully explained with lots of useful information that was full of recommendations for home and school. Fiona is very friendly and passionate about her job and getting the correct identification of the issues raised with the best outcome for the child.
Parent of 'B' age 8
At what age can a child be assessed ?
It is recommended that a child is at least seven before they are assessed. I do sometimes assess six year olds, however this is not always conclusive and sometimes requires a further assessment when they are older. The results are still useful to provide an insight into learning strengths and weaknesses.
I hold the Assessing Practising Certificate, so am qualified to assess for exam access arrangements for public exams and Disabled Student Allowance for entry to university.
How much does an assessment cost?
I charge £450 for either a dyslexia or dyscalculia assessment, including the report and the feedback meeting at the end of the assessment. If you would like to book a joint assessment for both dyslexia and dyscalculia, the cost is £675. Please do ask if you need a payment plan set up to spread the cost.
How do I book?
The quickest way is to book online by going to the homepage and scrolling down until you see 'Book an
Assessment or Cogmed Club', or you can fill in my contact form letting me know your preferred date.