The assessment process

For literacy-dyslexia and/or maths-dyscalculia assessments

To speed up the booking process, please:

1. ensure that the person being assessed has had a standard eyesight test in the past 2 years and allow enough time to get used to a possible new prescription before the dyslexia/maths assessment.

2. carefully answer the questions from the visual difficulties questionnaire below, even if there's no history of eyesight difficulties. If booking for your child, please ask them these questions.

Discovery Calls: These can be booked HERE

For all others services: You can email me at [email protected], send a message or call me on 01342 714065. It will help if you let me know the following:

• Diagnostic assessments: Please confirm whether both 'pre-assessment checks' on this page have been carried out, whether you're looking for literacy and/or maths skills to be explored and provide some context for your enquiry. I'll then send you a link to my online booking system to book a date and pay the deposit.

• Exam access arrangements: Please let me know which school your child goes to, which school year they're in and whether you've been asked by the school to contact me. For adults sitting professional exams, please let me know the name of the exam board, the exam(s) you're sitting and whether you can send me official documentation about the required evidence.

• Workplace needs assessments: Please provide some context, such as whether you're the employee or employer and what's led to your enquiry.

• Neurodiversity workplace strategy/ADHD coaching: Please provide some context such as whether you're the employee or employer and what's led to your enquiry.

All assessments except exam access arrangements: I'll ask you to complete an online questionnaire at least 14 days before the assessment date. There may be questionnaires for others to complete too, such as for your school, college, employee or employer.

Exam access arrangements linked to GCSEs/A' levels: The school or college will need to send me JCQ form 8 before the assessment date with the relevant sections completed.

To help break the ice, I offer a free 5-10 minute Zoom 'hello' in the days before the assessment so the person being assessed can say 'hello', ask questions, etc.

For diagnostic assessment, you'll receive an email the weekend before the appointment with some gentle reminders, such as what's needed on the day. There'll be an attachment for children to introduce myself, share what to expect, etc.

For assessments at my home: If you're a parent, you're welcome to pop in to see my dining room which is where I assess. For very quick assessments, you may like to wait in your car or in my heated garden cabin. For longer assessments (e.g., diagnostic assessments), you can return just before I'm due to provide feedback or you can stay in your car or in my garden whilst I'm assessing your child. As well as outdoor seating areas, I have an insulated, heated outdoor garden cabin with streaming services and the W-Fi code. You're welcome to come and use the toilet whenever you need it. The photos at the foot of this page may be helpful for you/your child to see my dining room, my garden cabin, etc.

Online assessments of all types: You will have received a Zoom link at the time of booking.

I provide immediate verbal feedback to explain my conclusion. For diagnostic and workplace needs assessments, this is up to 30 minutes. For exam access arrangements, this is up to 10 minutes.

For full diagnostic assessments (regardless of who pays for the assessment), I send reports and referral letters within 14 days of the assessment to only those named on them (or those with parental responsibility if under the age of 18 unless the person aged under 18 has arranged the assessment themselves). These reports are packed full of practical strategies as a diagnosis is just the starting point.

For assessments exploring only exam access arrangements, I'll share a short report with you (or your adult child if they're aged 18+) and, if working in conjunction with a school or college, I'll return JCQ form 8 to the SENCo within 48 hours.

For workplace needs assessments, the employee will receive a practical report outlining their needs, how these impact the job and practical recommendations to address these. Permission will be asked whether the employee is happy for the report to be shared with the employer too.