Understanding how your child learns
Learnability offers full diagnostic dyslexia assessments for pupils in primary and secondary school, as well as post-16 students and adults. Access arrangements for 11+, SATs and national exams are considered in the assessment process, and appropriate recommendations are made.
Every child learns differently
For some children, learning comes naturally. Others work far harder than their peers despite being every bit as capable. A diagnostic assessment builds a detailed picture of how your child learns - their strengths as well as their difficulties - so that they, their family and their school understand what is helping them succeed and what may be standing in their way.
For many children and young people, an explanation is itself a relief. They discover they are not "less able" - they simply learn differently. That understanding is often the first step towards renewed confidence and self-belief.
Most importantly, an assessment provides a roadmap: clear, practical guidance for supporting your child so they can reach their full potential.
How an assessment helps
- Identifies whether dyslexia is present, with a formal identification where the evidence supports it
- Explains why reading, spelling or writing is proving harder than expected
- Highlights strengths, not just difficulties
- Flags indicators of other learning differences that may need further investigation
- Gives practical recommendations for home and school
- Helps schools make the right adjustments
- Identifies whether exam access arrangements may be appropriate
- Provides clear evidence for discussions with schools, colleges and professionals
Before, during and after
Before the assessment
Every assessment begins well before the day itself. Questionnaires for parents and, where possible, school build a detailed picture of your child's educational history, current strengths, areas of concern and the support already in place. They also explore wider aspects of development - such as indicators of attentional difficulties and motor coordination - so the assessment is tailored to your child from the outset.
During the assessment
The assessment takes place in a calm, relaxed environment, typically lasting around three hours with regular breaks whenever needed. Many of the activities feel more like puzzles or games than formal tests, helping children feel comfortable while giving an accurate picture of how they process information. Because every learner is different, the programme is adapted throughout the session - and where the picture calls for it, further diagnostic activities explore particular areas in greater depth.
After the assessment
The results are analysed alongside the background information from home and school, and you receive a comprehensive diagnostic report in clear, accessible language - followed by a 30-minute online call to talk everything through.
A full picture!
Each assessment uses standardised tests, administered one-to-one, across four broad areas. Test choice varies depending on the learner but here's what could be included:
Language & reasoning
- Verbal reasoning
- Vocabulary and language development
- Expressive and receptive language
- Listening comprehension
Cognitive processing
- Working memory
- Auditory and visual memory
- Visual processing
- Processing speed
- Orthographic processing - how written words are stored and recognised
Phonological skills
- Phonological awareness
- Phonological memory
- Rapid retrieval of sounds and words
Literacy attainment
- Single-word reading and decoding
- Reading fluency and comprehension
- Spelling
- Written expression and writing fluency
- Handwriting speed
Written to the current SASC standard
Our reports are guided by the SASC report format (the national standard for diagnostic assessments of specific learning difficulties written by dyslexia specialists). The reports set out the assessment findings transparently, distinguish observation from test data from professional opinion and end with tiered, practical recommendations for school, specialist intervention and home.
Because reports are written by an assessor holding a current Level 7 Assessment Practising Certificate (APC), they are accepted by schools, exam boards, universities and can be used as evidence when applying for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).
Access arrangements such as extra time, a reader, a scribe or rest breaks, are considered as part of every assessment, for the 11+, SATs, GCSEs, A Levels and other national exams, with recommendations schools and exam centres can act on.
The report includes a detailed explanation of your child's strengths and areas of difficulty, an interpretation of what the findings mean for day-to-day learning, a formal identification of dyslexia where the evidence supports it, and guidance on specialist teaching or tutoring where appropriate.
The conversation after the report
Receiving a report is often just the beginning. Every assessment includes a 30-minute online call to discuss the findings and agree next steps - an opportunity to go through the results in detail, explain the recommendations and answer your questions. The call can be just for parents and the student if preferred, or your child's school can be included so that everyone shares the same understanding of your child's needs.
By recognising their strengths, understanding their challenges and putting the right support in place, children are better equipped to grow in confidence, independence and their attitude to learning.
Frequently asked questions
From what age can a child be assessed?
A full diagnostic assessment is generally most reliable from around age seven or eight, once formal literacy teaching is established. For younger children, a conversation about early support strategies and the benefits of a screening may be the right first step.
How long does the assessment session take?
Typically around three hours, with breaks built in. Sessions are kept relaxed and unhurried - most learners find them far less daunting than expected, and many enjoy them.
Will my child find the assessment stressful?
The assessment is designed to be calm and child-friendly. Many of the activities feel more like puzzles or games than formal tests, and breaks are offered whenever needed.
Will my child receive a diagnosis?
Where the assessment evidence meets the recognised criteria, a formal identification of dyslexia is included in the report. If a different pattern of learning difficulty emerges, this is explained too, together with recommendations for any further assessment that may be helpful.
Will the report be accepted by schools, exam boards and universities?
Yes. Reports are written in the current SASC format by an assessor holding a Level 7 Assessment Practising Certificate (APC), which is what schools, exam boards, universities and the DSA require.
Can the assessment help with exam access arrangements?
Yes. Where the assessment evidence supports it, recommendations for reasonable adjustments and exam access arrangements are included in the report, which schools can consider alongside their own evidence of your child's normal way of working.
What happens after the assessment?
You receive a comprehensive diagnostic report in clear, accessible language, followed by a 30-minute online call to discuss the findings and next steps - with parents and the student, and the school included if you wish.