1. Where are you based?
I live in Morecambe, LA3 3AQ. My home is very easy to find, located less than ten minutes from Junction 34 of the M6. Bare Lane train station is less that one mile from my home.2. What area do you cover?
I prefer to run full diagnostic assessments and private screenings from my own home as a lot of bulky, heavy materials are required, they take some time to set up and I can guarantee a light, airy space with freedom from distractions in my own home. Therefore the area I cover for private assessments is only limited by your willingness to travel to me. In exceptional circumstances I may travel to you and in those cases I charge 40p/mile from LA3 3AQ to your home.I work with schools anywhere within the NW of England: Cumbria, West Yorkshire and North Lancashire. To my knowledge, I am the only fully qualified dyscalculia assessor servicing Cumbria, West Yorkshire and the Lancaster/Morecambe area!
3. Why is a screener or assessment so expensive?
Before I started my training, I wondered the same thing! To become a fully qualified SpLD assessor requires lengthy university postgraduate study with high fees. There are ongoing expenses such as membership in national bodies, accreditation costs, professional development courses to stay updated with the latest developments in neuroscience and diagnosis, insurance, new tests to purchase, and publishers’ fixed costs for using test materials for each administration. There is also a significant amount of time required before and after the face-to-face assessment that parents may not see. It takes time to analyse and triple-check the findings, draw conclusions, write a personalized report with bespoke recommendations, and proofread it. Each diagnostic assessment takes several days, and after covering costs, I would earn more from supply teaching than from conducting assessments. So why do I do it? I take great pleasure in helping children and their families finally understand why they struggle in certain areas and in the support they will receive as a result of the assessment.4. Do you offer discounted assessments?
I understand that the cost of assessments can be prohibitive for many and I certainly did not forge a career in education to support only those who could afford help. As part of my commitment to helping as many people with maths difficulties as I can, a limited number of places are available at significantly discounted rates for low-income families.
See my terms and conditions for further information.
5. What is the difference between a screener and an assessment?
The difference between a screener and a full diagnostic assessment can be confusing, especially when it is possible to find online companies promising an ‘assessment’ – when it is actually a screener!A dyscalculia screener is a quick tool to identify potential risk and identify gaps in maths knowledge and understanding, while a full diagnostic assessment is a comprehensive evaluation to formally diagnose the dyscalculia and develop a detailed understanding of an individual’s specific challenges.
6. My child’s school won’t pay for an assessment. Why not?
This is a very common question and one I also asked when I wanted diagnostic assessments for my own children. The simple answer is that a school does not need a full assessment to be carried out for them to effectively support a child or young person in school. Recommendations from a screener are sufficient for them to help an individual to progress.
7. My dyslexic child struggles with maths. Should I get them assessed for dyscalculia, too?
60% of individuals with dyslexia will have difficulties in maths. Dyslexia may lead them to have difficulties with telling the time, working out money, understanding word problems, working out longer written methods, understanding mathematical terms and forgetting what they have previously learnt, but this does not mean they have dyscalculia.Therefore, it is helpful to have a chat with a dyscalculia specialist to decide whether or not it is necessary. Within the profession we talk about ‘over testing’ – and it is important to consider whether a child needs to go through will be sufficient for their maths progress, too.
8. Can you do an assessment with me or my child remotely?
Although it is possible to assess for dyslexia virtually, I do not currently offer this service. Industry regulations state that it is not possible to effectively assess for SpLD (maths) / dyscalculia remotely. The exception to this is when a person is unable to attend an assessment in person and in this unlikely situation, an Assessment of Need (which I can carry out remotely) is most likely a more appropriate route.9. What happens during a screening?
A screener (also referred to as an Assessment of Need) is an informal set of tasks that are designed to identify the gaps in a person’s knowledge and understanding. There is also an opportunity for the individual to discuss what they find difficult in their school/work. Therefore, screeners are not generally challenging and those who have undertaken a screener find the process interesting. Find out more about what happens during a screening here.10. What happens during an assessment?
Diagnostic assessments are more formal than a screener/assessment of need because the tests are standardised and must be carried out in a particular way to make the findings reliable. Having said that, the individual is put at ease, we take breaks and many are often surprised by some of the tasks – they report them being interesting or fun, and they often do not associate them with ‘doing English’ or ‘doing maths’ at all. In fact, there are few tasks that look like traditional schoolwork! Tasks assess the individual’s underlying ability, working memory, processing speed, maths and English attainment. Find out more about what happens during an assessment here.11. I’m travelling a long distance to see you. Can an assessment be done in one sitting?
Dyslexia assessments are usually held in one sitting. I prefer to hold a dyscalculia assessment or joint assessment over two sessions (normally one week apart) because I believe that the individual is fresher if they have had a good break.If you want an assessment in one day, then this may be possible (I reserve the right to postpone the remainder if I feel the individual is not at their best). You will need to leave for at least one hour for lunch and do something active before you return.
I can recommend child-friendly cafes, and a walk down Morecambe’s Promenade is a great activity to get the oxygen circulating again, weather permitting! If you live locally, having the assessment in one sitting is not an option.
12. Do you assess children who are home educated?
Yes, I am a great supporter of parents who choose home education for their children. If the child has previously attended school, I would like copies of school reports. If they are currently being tutored, I would need a questionnaire to be completed by the child / young person’s tutor.13. I’ve seen online assessments that advertise they will provide a comprehensive report. Are they the same as your assessment?
Companies who advertise “online assessments” can be misleading. In reality, they are providing access to an online screener that a child works through. These screeners are becoming more sophisticated, and some schools use them effectively. However, they cannot provide the same level of detail as an in-person screener because screening is more than just the test results when it is carried out by a qualified specialist assessor. The assessor uses observations and discusses strategies used, for example. The online screener typically notes how quickly a child completes the tasks. Online assessments provide a report, but recommendations are drawn from a generic bank and do not take into consideration the specific needs of the child in the same way an in-person screening does.
14. What qualifications should I look for when choosing an assessor?
This is a minefield and can be very confusing to the general public! Checklist:- A Level 7 Specialist Assessor Qualification
- An up-to-date APC from the organisation with which professional membership is had (Patoss, BDA, Dyslexia Guild) – the APC should be checked on the SASC list of assessors website to ensure that it is currently valid as they run for a three years at a time.
An APC also provides assurance that the assessor has kept up to date with their professional development, and that they follow their professional organisation’s Code of Ethics.
An individual or company who has the above qualifications in dyslexia (only) is currently not eligible to assess for dyscalculia. They may offer a dyscalculia screening, but be mindful that this is not a full diagnostic assessment.
An Educational Psychologist is also qualified to diagnose dyscalculia, but if this has been done in school, it is often carried out in a time-limited manner and is unlikely to result in the same level of detail that a specialist assessor can provide simply because of time constraints and areas of expertise.
15. Who is qualified to screen for dyslexic or dyscalculic indicators?
There are no qualifications required to carry out screening. In other words, anyone can do it!Indeed, I screened some children I taught using high quality materials myself before becoming qualified to assess in my own time at the child’s and their parents’ approval.
Often a SENDCo, class teacher or teaching assistant is best placed to run a screener as this provides valuable information for supporting the child.
The reality of school budgets and subsequent pressures upon school staff mean that this is usually impossible to facilitate.
16. Can I stay during my child’s assessment?
In my experience, children feel more at ease and perform more naturally without a parent watching over them, so assessments are typically conducted without you in the room.Most parents choose to drop their child off after seeing the space and ensuring their child is comfortable. However, if you’d like to stay nearby, you’re welcome to relax in a neighbouring room with a book or some quiet TV.
If there are special circumstances where your child would benefit from having you in the room, we can discuss the best approach to ensure they feel supported while still getting the most accurate assessment results.
17. Will my child get extra time in exams if they have dyslexia or dyscalculia?
If the assessment has identified processing speed, working memory or written speed as areas that are below average, recommendations for extra time in exams will be made to the school in the report. Note: the report itself does not guarantee these accommodations. It is the school’s decision whether or to implement these adaptations.18. Does my child’s school need to know that they’re having a screening/assessment?
Before we can set date(s) for a screening or full diagnostic assessment, I require a questionnaire to be completed by the teacher(s) or SENDCo. This is important because it will outline the interventions that have been carried out at school and the extent to which they have been effective, the areas of difficulty that the teacher sees in school and offers the school an opportunity to raise any further thoughts or concerns about the child’s progress. This is invaluable information for me as an assessor to triangulate information from home and what I find during the screening/assessment.It is the parent’s responsibility to request / ensure the completion and return of the school questionnaire.