All West of England Education Centre assessments are designed to lead on to effective teaching programmes. They are suitable for people of all ages.

Some written reports will, however, also provide a definitive diagnosis (such as dyslexia) and/or additional information for parents, schools, Local Educational Authorities (LEAs), Examination Boards, Tribunals, Universities/Colleges etc. The additional time taken is reflected in the cost.

The following assessments are available to meet these different needs:

Specialist Teacher Assessment (without a written report)

This is a diagnostic assessment to find out the nature of any literacy and/or numeracy difficulties and to provide advice on the key areas that need to be addressed in a teaching programme.

The Specialist Teacher will also provide some assessment of general ability (underlying potential), learning style and reading/spelling/numeracy ages/Standard Scores, to establish whether there is a discrepancy between general ability and current achievement.

The assessment involves:

  • The completion of a questionnaire on relevant background information
  • A brief discussion with the specialist teacher before and after the assessment.
  • 2-2½ hours of activities.
  • A one to two page summary of test results.
  • Discussion of intervention options available.

Please note this will not provide a definitive assessment but will identify areas of need and highlight areas of strength for a teaching programme.

Specialist Teacher Assessment (with written report)

This assessment is the same Specialist Teacher Assessment but with the benefit of a full written report. This will also include general suggestions for suitable classroom practices if the person is at school/college/university.

The Specialist Teacher will consider whether there is evidence of dyslexia, but any diagnosis is not as widely accepted as proof of dyslexia as that of an Educational Psychologist’s assessment.

The assessment involves:

  • The completion of a questionnaire on relevant background information
  • A brief discussion with the specialist teacher before and after the assessment.
  • 2-2½ hours of activities.
  • A full written confidential report with recommendations.
  • Discussion of intervention options available.

Educational Psychologist (EP) Assessment

Educational Psychologists specialise in providing more in-depth assessments using ‘closed’ tests, which are not available to teachers.

The Full Assessment is the most comprehensive and therefore the most expensive. It includes a more extensive profile of strengths and weaknesses, learning style, and indication of general ability, which can be provided as an IQ score, if appropriate.

Reading/spelling/numeracy ages/Standard Scores will also be given, as appropriate, to establish whether there is a discrepancy between general ability and current achievement.

The Educational Psychologist’s recommendations will also refer to suitable classroom strategies, if the person is at school/college/university.

The Educational Psychologist will provide a diagnosis of any learning difficulties/giftedness, if appropriate, which should be recognised by schools, Local Educational Authorities, Universities, and other professionals.

The assessment involves:

  • The completion of a questionnaire on relevant background information.
  • A brief discussion with the Educational Psychologist before and after the assessment.
  • 3-3½ hours of activities.
  • A detailed confidential report with recommendations.
  • Discussion of intervention options available.

Access Arrangement Reports

These are short reports written by either Specialist Teachers or Educational Psychologists to indicate whether the person should be considered for special examination arrangements (‘Access Arrangements’) in their formal examinations.
Special Arrangements could consist of one or more of the following:

  • Extra time.
  • A Reader or read-back software.
  • A scribe or voice –activated software.
  • Use of a word-processor.
  • Reading aloud.
  • A prompter.
  • Rest breaks.

The assessment will involve:

  • The completion of a questionnaire on relevant background information.
  • Approximately 1 hour of assessment.
  • The completion of the appropriate Access Arrangement report.

It is important to ensure that the school/college is happy for this assessment to go ahead, as it is the responsibility of the school/college to request the Access Arrangements on your behalf.

Occupational Therapy Assessment and Report

Occupational therapists involve themselves in helping people to manage the daily challenges within play, home life, school and work. Occupational therapy assessment is available to help gather information for diagnostic purposes, to understand the challenges faced by the person and to determine ways of managing the difficulties he/she experiences.

The assessment includes an evaluation of the person's developmental history, postural and sensory motor skills. Assessment is available within the nursery/school/work setting. A written report is provided. (Assessment time 2-3 hours)

Other areas of concern (social, emotional, or behavioural)

If there are additional, more complex issues, you would like to discuss/explore, or if these are identified during one of the above assessments, further assessment can be arranged, at a set hourly rate.

SENDT Tribunal Reports/Negligence Reports

Please let us know if an assessment is required for an appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDT) or a civil negligence case as these would normally involve a different type of report. The cost of such a report would also depend on the complexity of the case.

Please telephone the Centre on 01769 572800 to make an appointment for an assessment or to ask for more information.

 

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