What Happens at a Private Dyslexia Assessment for Children?

If your child has been referred for a private dyslexia assessment — or if you’ve decided to book one yourself — it’s natural to wonder what the process actually involves. Here’s what you and your child can expect.

Before the Assessment

Most assessors will ask you to complete a background questionnaire before the appointment. This covers your child’s development history, any previous concerns raised by teachers, school reports, and any earlier assessments or support your child has received. Being thorough here helps the assessor understand your child’s full picture before the testing begins.

On the Day

The assessment itself usually takes two to four hours, sometimes split across two sessions. It is carried out in a quiet, one-to-one setting — often at the assessor’s practice, or sometimes at your child’s school.

The session typically includes:

• A brief conversation with your child to help them feel at ease
• Standardised tests covering reading accuracy and fluency, spelling, phonological awareness (hearing and manipulating sounds in words), working memory, and processing speed
• Writing tasks and observation of how your child approaches different challenges

The tasks are designed to be non-threatening and are presented as activities rather than tests. Most children find them manageable, even if some tasks are intentionally challenging — that is how the assessor identifies where difficulties lie.

After the Assessment

Once the session is complete, the assessor analyses all the data and writes a detailed report. This usually takes one to three weeks. The report will include your child’s standardised scores across each area tested, a professional interpretation of the findings, a clear statement of whether dyslexia (or other SpLDs) has been identified, and specific recommendations for school support, teaching approaches, and — if relevant — exam access arrangements.

Many assessors offer a follow-up call or meeting to walk you through the findings and answer any questions.

What Happens Next?

Once you have the report, you can share it with your child’s school SENCO, who can use it to put the right support in place. If your child is approaching GCSEs or A-Levels, the report can be submitted to the exam board to apply for access arrangements such as extra time or a reader.

To find a qualified dyslexia assessor near you, visit the SEND List guide to private dyslexia assessments in the UK. No referral is needed — you can book directly.