Dyslexia Assessments for children in Esher & Surrey
Clear, supportive diagnostic dyslexia assessments for children and young people aged 8–16.
Why work with me?
I'm Imogen Howat, a qualified Specialist Dyslexia Assessor with a Level 7 qualification and a current PATOSS* Assessment Practising Certificate (APC). I trained at the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity and have a degree in Psychology.
Based in Esher in Surrey, I provide comprehensive assessments to help families understand their child's individual strengths and difficulties and identify the right support moving forward.
*PATOSS stands for Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties
WHAT HAPPENS IN A Dyslexia Assessment
A full diagnostic dyslexia assessment builds a detailed picture of how your child learns, identifying their individual strengths as well as areas they may be finding more difficult.
The assessment uses a range of standardised tests to explore areas including:
- Reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension
- Spelling
- Phonological processing
- Working memory
- Processing speed
- Underlying cognitive strengths
The assessment usually takes around three hours and is carried out in a calm and supportive environment. There is nothing for your child to revise or prepare beforehand – the aim is to understand how they learn, rather than test what they have been taught.
Following the assessment, you will receive a comprehensive, SASC* compliant, diagnostic report explaining the findings clearly, together with practical, individualised recommendations for home and school.
Why Can an Assessment Be Helpful?
For children and young people aged 8–16, an assessment can provide valuable clarity about why some aspects of learning may be more difficult than expected.
It can help your child, family and school to understand their strengths and areas of difficulty, identify appropriate support and put effective strategies in place. For many children, simply understanding why they find certain things difficult can also be reassuring and help them develop greater confidence in their learning.
When Might an Assessment Be Appropriate?
You might consider a dyslexia assessment if your child:
- has persistent difficulties with reading or spelling
- finds written work particularly challenging
- appears to work much harder than their peers for similar results
- shows a noticeable difference between their verbal ability and written work
- has difficulties with memory, organisation or processing information
- has a family history of dyslexia
- is approaching secondary school or GCSEs and you would like a clearer understanding of their learning profile
Dyslexia can be identified at different ages. I offer diagnostic assessments from age 8, when children have usually had sufficient opportunity to develop their literacy skills.
*SASC stands for SpLD Assessment Standards Committee.
Before the assessment
Before the assessment, I gather some background information to help build a full picture of your child's development and learning.
Parents and school will each be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire, and your child should have had a hearing check as well as an eyesight check within the last two years. A visual screening questionnaire is also completed as part of the preparation process.
This information helps me plan the assessment appropriately and ensures that the results can be considered in the context of your child's individual history and needs.
How Much does it cost?
Diagnostic Dyslexia Assessment — £700
The fee covers the complete assessment process, from gathering background information before the appointment through to your child's comprehensive diagnostic report.
A £150 deposit is required to secure the assessment date, with the remaining £550 payable on the day of the assessment.
The fee includes:
- Parent and school questionnaires
- Approximately three hours of individual assessment
- Scoring, analysis and interpretation of the results
- A comprehensive written diagnostic report
- Individualised recommendations for home and school
- An optional follow-up telephone call to discuss the findings and answer any questions about the report