Sheffield Dyslexia Centre

Diagnostic assessments can only be undertaken by a suitably qualified psychologist or a specialist teacher (with a qualification called an Assessment Practising Certificate or APC). We have both available for assessment at SDC.

Usually, but not exclusively, adults and young people 16 years old and over are assessed by independent, chartered occupational psychologist, Mrs Justine Webb and children by specialist teacher, Mrs Karen Anderson.

The regulations have fairly recently changed and, although previously only diagnostic reports obtained after the age of 16 were admissible, now any such report obtained after 7 years of age can be used as evidence of specific learning difficulties when applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance (D.S.A.) in Higher Education.   

TO BOOK:
Please contact us via email and we will send you the appropriate questionnaire(s).
Once either the family questionnaire or the adult questionnaire has been returned, (the school one, if applicable, can be returned nearer to the date of the assessment) you will be placed on our waiting list and contacted as soon as we can offer you an appointment.

Before the assessment appointment:
You will receive an email confirming the appointment, with travel directions or Zoom details, and an invoice with payment details.
If you wish the school/college to be involved, please pass on the appropriate questionnaire to them to complete.

For Year 9 and above:

 If the application for GCSE or GCE exam access arrangements is a likely outcome, a joint email to the school/college SENDCo and SDC is required giving permission for us to liaise with the school or college. This will be required BEFORE the assessment for the completion of the necessary paperwork.

During the assessment appointment:
Please allow up to 3 hours for the appointment.
Accompanying friends or family are welcome to use our waiting room or return in time for feedback.
Ample, free parking is available on site.
The assessor will discuss the information contained in your questionnaires and your current needs and concerns.
The formal process involves assessment of performance in verbal and non-verbal underlying ability, levels of attainment in reading, spelling, writing (and sometimes maths) and diagnostic testing (including investigation of working memory and information processing skills) to investigate the presence of dyslexia and possible indications of other specific learning difficulties.
Areas of strength are identified as well as any problem areas.
Some verbal feedback will be provided at the end of the session.

Following the assessment appointment:
The completed report is usually emailed within 3 working weeks of the assessment date.
This comprehensive report details scores, conclusions reached and personalised recommendations for support. These are likely to include for example, appropriate learning strategies, useful resources, assistive technologies and, if appropriate, will recommend specialist tuition.
After the report has been received, a ½ hour post-assessment feedback session can be arranged to discuss the findings/recommendations in the report, if required.

COST: £480 (Specialist Teacher) /£585 (Psychologist)