Who Can Assess?

Full diagnostic assessments can only be carried out by Chartered Psychologists and Specialist Teacher/Assessors with appropriate training and experience in assessment. They should have a current Practising Certificate in SpLD Assessment (see below) which needs to be renewed every 3 years.

Initial screenings can be carried out by teachers who have experience and understanding of the tests but this should be followed by specialist assessment if school or college Access Arrangements are required. An application for the University Disabled Student Allowance must be supported by a full diagnostic assessment report. This needs to be carried out after the student’s 16th birthday.

All specialist teacher assessors or psychologists who are qualified to carry out recognised assessments are listed on the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee website. Assessment Practising Certificates can be issued by Dyslexia Action, PATOSS or the British Dyslexia Association.
http://www.sasc.org.uk/

In the past many parents would be directed towards Educational Psychologists for assessment of specific learning difficulties but this is now rarely necessary. Trained specialist teacher/assessors can now use all the essential published tests. A full Educational or Clinical Psychologist assessment can be very expensive.