Dyslexia assessment

A specialist assessment of literacy difficulty. Useful, and not a precondition for support.

What it is

A diagnostic assessment for dyslexia is carried out by a specialist teacher holding an assessment practising certificate, or by an educational psychologist. It produces a report describing the pattern of strengths and difficulties and recommending support.

Where it applies

Children and adults with persistent literacy difficulty. There is no age at which it is too early to be concerned, though formal assessment is usually more reliable from around seven.

How it works

Schools rarely fund these and waiting lists for council EP time are long, so many families pay privately — typically several hundred pounds.

A diagnosis is NOT required for a school to provide support, and it is not required for access arrangements — those rest on evidence of normal way of working and a specialist assessor's evidence of need, not on a label.

A full diagnostic report is required for Disabled Students' Allowance at university, so one obtained in school years has later value.

What you can ask for

Ask the school what it is doing now, before you pay for anything. Support should not be waiting on an assessment.

Ask whether the school has a specialist assessor, or works with one. Many do.

If you pay for an assessment, ask for the recommendations to be written into the support plan with dates.

Where to get help

The British Dyslexia Association and the Dyslexia Guild hold registers of qualified assessors. PATOSS for specialist teachers.