2 LEARN BEYOND LIMITS
Assessments in Yorkshire
Diagnostic Assessment for Families
A diagnostic assessment for dyslexia requires detailed background information, attainment and standardised test data to be professionally interpreted in order to identify an individual's cognitive profile – a pattern of relative strengths and difficulties; the ability to perceive and react, process and understand, store and retrieve information, make decisions and produce appropriate responses – the ability to learn.
As a specialist teacher and professional assessor with a current assessment practising certificate (APC), I can explore your, or your child’s learning profile and provide advice on the suitable strategies to support continuing development, whether at school or at home.
​​
​
Although information here has focused on investigations for children, I am qualified to carry out assessments for adults, whether to inform their studies or their progress in the workplace.
Diagnostic assessments can be commissioned :
-
typically, from the age of eight, to support their progress through primary and secondary education.
-
for students about to embark upon higher education applying for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) funding. A diagnostic assessment is the proof required to evidence a specific learning difficulty in order to apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance. See www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance
-
for adults who wish to better understand how to improve their efficiency in the workplace
​​​All assessments would be conducted and the report written, in accordance with the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) current guidelines for diagnostic assessment and report writing. I am listed on the Specific Learning Difficulties Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) website, www.sasc.org.uk
Please contact me to arrange a no-obligation call to discuss my dyslexia service and I would encourage you to read the feedback from other families by clicking the link below.
​
It is crucial that you and your child feel reassured throughout the assessment process.
​
A 'no obligation' initial phone call helps me understand the difficulties you or your school team have noticed and allows me to answer your questions.
Once you transfer an initial balance, I collate detailed, valuable feedback from both the home and school/ college setting, then we agree a date for the face-to-face assessment meeting.
A reassuring welcome video call, a couple of days before the assessment, allows me to say 'hello' and chat through what your child can expect from activities. Our assessment meeting lasts between 2 and 3 hours; there is a lot of learning and 'thinking' I need to explore. Typically, they will find some areas trickier but engage in the novelty of the process and find working with me is relaxed and enjoyable. It is key to explore their strengths alongside difficulties
Finally, your detailed report should take no longer than three weeks to compile and will be sent to you once the remaining balance is transferred. Understandably, it takes a little while for you to process the findings and suggested supportive strategies, at which point a further conversation over the phone allows me to answer any follow-up questions and chat through the conclusions to ensure you are confident of your next steps; this information could be shared with your school’s SENCo and teaching team to help them further adapt their teaching practice to support your child in the classroom or lecture hall.
​
Assessments to support schools and colleges
As a qualified Assessor of Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements I am able to administer standardised tests to identify and evidence appropriate Access Arrangements (as per the Joint Council for Qualifications requirements).
​
This would involve administering appropriate standardised assessments, and completing Part 2 of the required ‘Form 8’ for each eligible student.
​
I have extensive experience of assessing for exam access arrangements and am happy to advise SENCos and their teams on the appropriate application of the current Guidelines issued by the Joint Council for Qualifications (having completed the SASC update training).
​
Please contact me for further advice.
