Frequently asked questions

What ages do you assess?

In line with British Dyslexia Association guidelines, we assess children from the age of eight. Prior to this, it can be difficult to distinguish between natural variations in early childhood development and a formal learning difference. Although an assessment can be done earlier, the report would contain recommendations for support but no diagnosis. The BDA recommend waiting until age eight before giving a formal diagnosis.

Our diagnostic assessments are available for children and young people up to 18 years of age. For adults seeking an assessment, we are happy to recommend and provide contact details for alternative specialist assessors.

Can you assess if English is not the first language?

Because the standardised diagnostic tools we use are heavily influenced by an English-speaking culture, it is essential that the child has been regularly speaking English and living in an English-speaking country for a minimum of seven consecutive years. Additionally, to ensure the assessment results are accurate and valid, the child must be able to confidently read, write, and spell in English. If a formal assessment is carried out before meeting this seven-year threshold, the assessor will not be able to make a definitive diagnosis, meaning a complete re-test would likely be required at a later date.

The assessment process - before, during and after

Before

The child must have had a sight test within the last two years and it is helpful if they have had a recent hearing test.

If the child has any other formal diagnoses, the reports should be shared with the assessor. It is important to let the assessor know about any previous assessments and/or study support. This will prevent repetition of tests, which may make results invalid.

Parents should complete the pre-assessment questionnaire with as much background information as possible. This information may be referenced in the final report. Should you not wish this information to be used, please make this explicit when completing the questionnaire.

Background information is required from your child’s school. The assessor will require an email address for your child’s class teacher and SENCo. It is helpful if Dyslexia Solutions North East are copied into any email correspondence you have with the school regarding the assessment.

During

The assessment process will ideally be carried out in the child’s home where they feel relaxed and comfortable. The assessment must take place in a room free of distractions and with a table. A parent should remain in the house throughout the process, but not in the same room. The assessor is fully qualified and has DBS clearance.

Should a suitable room in the child’s house not be available, the assessment can take place in the assessor’s home - this should be arranged at the time of booking.

The process can take up to 3 hours. The assessor will stop several times for drink, snack and comfort breaks.

After

After the assessment, you will receive a written report within 15 working days. This is a comprehensive report (approximately 30 pages in length) detailing the child’s unique strengths and weaknesses. The report will include recommendations on how to support the child with their learning. The report is designed to be shared with school and tutors, should the child and their family wish to do so.

Payment and cancellation

Fees, Deposits, and Booking Confirmation

  • A non-refundable deposit of £200 is required before an assessment date can be secured. A booking will not be processed or confirmed until this deposit has been paid in full.

  • By paying the deposit, you confirm your explicit acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

  • Statutory Right to Cancel: In accordance with the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, you have the right to cancel this contract and receive a full refund of your deposit within 14 days of your initial booking. However, if you explicitly request the assessment to take place within this 14-day cancellation window, you acknowledge that you waive your right to cancel, and no refund will be available once the assessment has been conducted. Once the 14-day cooling-off period has expired, the deposit is strictly non-refundable.

  • The remaining balance of the full assessment fee must be paid in full no later than 14 days prior to the agreed assessment date.

Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy

  • If you wish to cancel or reschedule your assessment after the statutory 14-day cooling-off period has passed, the following retention and cancellation charges apply based on the total assessment fee:

Notice Given

More than 14 days before the assessment

Between 48 hours and 14 days before

Less than 48 hours before (or no show)

Cancellation / Reschedule Charge

No fee (deposit retained)

50% of the total assessment fee

100% of the total assessment fee

Refund Eligibility

Full refund of the remaining balance paid

50% refund of the total fee paid

No refund

  • Child Illness: Should the child being assessed be taken ill on the morning of the assessment, the cancellation fee will be waived, provided the assessment is successfully rescheduled to a new date. However, if the assessor has already departed for the venue before being notified of the illness, the client will be liable to pay the assessor's travel costs (charged at standard HMRC mileage rates of 55p per mile, plus £50 per hour (or part thereof) to cover the assessor’s time.

Termination or Non-Completion of Assessment

Dyslexia Solutions North East reserves the right to terminate or postpone the session and charge a cancellation fee of up to 100% of the total assessment cost if the assessment cannot safely or validly proceed due to any of the following reasons:

  • Late Arrival: If the client arrives more than 30 minutes late, preventing the full suite of psychometric tests from being completed.

  • Inappropriate Environment: If the assessment is scheduled at a client-provided venue that is deemed inappropriate by the assessor (e.g., a busy shared space, a bedroom, or a room with significant visual/auditory distractions).

  • Client Distress or Anxiety: If the assessment cannot be completed due to severe distress, acute anxiety, or environmental factors that prevent valid, standardised testing, the assessor reserves the right to terminate the session. In these rare circumstances, the fee is non-refundable to cover the assessor's professional time and travel, but a rescheduled session may be offered at a significantly reduced rate at the assessor's absolute discretion.

Cancellation by Dyslexia Solutions North East

In the rare event that severe weather, sudden illness, or an unforeseen emergency forces Dyslexia Solutions North East to cancel an assessment, we will endeavour to give a minimum of 24 hours' notice and will offer priority rescheduling. It is the client’s responsibility to provide a valid emergency contact telephone number at the time of booking where they can be easily reached. Dyslexia Solutions North East is not liable for any indirect or consequential costs incurred by the client due to an emergency postponement.

Terms and Conditions

1. Services and No Guarantee of Diagnosis The fee covers a comprehensive, professional diagnostic evaluation using standardised psychometric testing. Payment of the fee does not guarantee a diagnosis of dyslexia or any other Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD). The assessment may conclude that the individual does not meet the criteria for dyslexia, or a different learning difficulty may be indicated. Refunds are not given if a diagnosis is not made.

While the assessment is carried out in strict accordance with SASC and professional guidelines, Dyslexia Solutions North East cannot guarantee that external bodies (e.g. schools, universities, etc.) will automatically accept the report.

2. School Input and Exam Access Arrangements Schools are responsible for granting exam Access Arrangements based on a student’s normal way of working, as per the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) guidance. A diagnostic report can help form a picture of need but does not guarantee any particular access arrangement, as that decision rests entirely with the school.

3. Background information If the client (parent) fails to provide the required parental background questionnaire at least 48 hours prior to the assessment, Dyslexia Solutions North East reserves the right to postpone the assessment and charge an administration fee. The assessor reserves the right to delay the assessment or issue the report without school input if the school fails to provide background information. In such cases, the full fee remains payable.

4. Payment and Delivery of Reports Full payment must be made 14 days prior to the assessment date. Dyslexia Solutions North East reserves the right to cancel the assessment booking until full payment has been made.

Reports are issued electronically in a secure PDF format. If the client explicitly requests an additional physical paper copy to be printed and posted, an administrative charge of £5 per report will apply to cover materials and postage.

5. Statutory Right to Cancel (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013) In accordance with UK consumer law, if you book this service online, via email, or over the phone, you have a statutory right to cancel this contract within 14 days of booking without giving any reason.

However, if you request or agree that the assessment date be scheduled within this 14-day cancellation period, you explicitly agree that the service may begin before the cancellation period expires. If the service is fully performed (i.e., the assessment is conducted), you acknowledge that you waive your right to cancel and no refund will be issued.

6. Limitation of Liability Nothing in these terms and conditions shall limit or exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability which cannot be limited or excluded under English law.

Subject to the above, the total liability of Dyslexia Solutions North East to the client in contract, tort (including negligence), or otherwise shall be limited to the total fee paid for the assessment. Dyslexia Solutions North East cannot be held liable for any indirect or consequential losses (e.g., if a school refuses to accept the report, or if a client misses out on an exam arrangement deadline or a university place).

7. Data Protection and Retention (UK GDPR) By signing these terms, you provide explicit consent for Dyslexia Solutions North East to process sensitive personal data (Special Category Data), including cognitive scores and educational histories, for the sole purpose of conducting the assessment.

To comply with data protection principles and professional insurance requirements, raw test data sheets, physical scoring booklets, and intake questionnaires will be securely destroyed 12 months after the report is issued. The final electronic report will be stored securely up to the child’s 25th birthday, after which it will be permanently and securely deleted. Dyslexia Solutions North East cannot provide duplicate copies of the report once this retention period has expired.

8. Safeguarding A parent or guardian must remain on the premises for the entire duration of the assessment. Dyslexia Solutions North East cannot conduct an assessment on a minor unless an adult chaperone is present.

9. Governing Law These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Privacy Policy

Dyslexia Solutions North East is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals. Accordingly, all personal data collected will be stored securely.

In line with SASC guidance, following the assessment and the compilation of the final assessment report, test papers will be stored for 12 months from the date of assessment.

Your final assessment report will be held by Dyslexia Solutions North East until your child reaches the age of 25. During this time you will be able to ask for an electronic copy of the report. Please note there may be an administration charge for this. We would, therefore, strongly recommend that you keep a copy of your report securely. After this time, Dyslexia Solutions North East will not be able to supply you with a copy of your report. Reports are kept until age 25 for legal and professional indemnity insurance purposes and cannot be deleted upon request before that time.

Should you wish to make a complaint, please contact us at denise@dyslexiasolutionsne.com

Dyslexia Solutions North East is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Registration reference: ZC197624.