The Assessment:

A short discussion to understand your concerns and the purpose of the assessment (e.g. diagnostic clarity, school support, exam access).

Guidance on which type of assessment is most appropriate.

Parent questionnaire – developmental history, family background, and your observations.

Visual screener – completed by parents and the student, helping to identify any visual stress or related issues.

School questionnaire – completed by the teacher who knows the student best, or the SENCo, giving insight into classroom learning and support already in place.

Collection of any relevant school reports, previous assessments, or samples of work.

Carried out face-to-face with the student in a calm, encouraging environment.

Usually takes around 3–4 hours, with breaks as needed.

A range of SASC-approved, standardised tests are used to give a full picture of learning. 

These cover areas such as:

• Reading accuracy and fluency
• Spelling and written expression
• Working memory and processing speed
• Underlying phonological and language skills

Time to ask questions and discuss first impressions.

A detailed written report provided within 2–3 weeks.

Explains the student’s learning profile in clear language.

Highlights both strengths and difficulties.

Provides tailored, practical recommendations for school and home.

Can be used as evidence for exam access arrangements, where appropriate.

Optional feedback meeting to go through the report and next steps.

Ongoing advice or referral to further support if needed.