Booking a diagnostic assessment

• Diagnostic assessments can be booked via the Bourne Dyslexia website by completing a parent/ carer questionnaire. This questionnaire is the first step in forming the diagnostic picture. Follow-up phone calls may also be made to support this information.

• The assessor will confirm the appointment by email (please check junk mail). Both email and phone contact details must be provided to the assessor. 

• A £270 deposit will be taken at the time of booking to secure your date and time. This deposit will be deducted from the total amount payable on the day. A report will not be written, until the full payment of £540 has been received (£550, if travel is requested).

Before the assessment

• In order to proceed with the assessment, your child must have a sight test within the last 6 months. In some cases, difficulties with reading are caused by visual difficulties that are not related to learning. Glasses must be brought to the assessment if required. 

• Prior the assessment, the assessor will request background information from your child’s school. A report cannot be completed unless this information is provided.  Follow-up phone calls or e-mails may also be made to support this information.

• The location of the assessment will be confirmed on receipt of the deposit. This is usually at The Old School House (TOSH) in Boscombe. The learner’s home address may be used for an additional £10 fee. This will be discussed with the assessor prior, ensuring the setting is suitable.

Cancellations

• A diagnostic assessment may be cancelled by the learner’s parent/carer prior to the appointment with no charge but we kindly request that you give 5 days’ notice (failure to do so will result in the non-return of £270 deposit).

• The learner or their parent/carer may cancel the assessment due to ill health or unforeseen circumstances, including on the day of the assessment. In such cases, the assessment will be rescheduled at the earliest mutually convenient time.

• The assessor reserves the right to cancel the assessment due to ill health or unforeseen circumstances, including on the day of the assessment. In such cases, the assessment will be rescheduled at the earliest mutually convenient time.

During an assessment

• The assessor will act with professionalism during the assessment with due care to the learner‘s comfort and needs.

• The learner is required to behave in a manner conducive to determining an accurate diagnosis. Where co-occurring needs mean that extra accommodations may be needed, this should be discussed with the assessor prior to assessment.

• The assessor will work with the learner with no other persons in the same room for the duration of the assessment. Parents/ carers can stay on the premises, within hearing distance, if they so wish.  

• Where an individual under the age of 16 is left with an assessor, the parent/carer will have provided a contact phone number and will be freely available during this time.

• The assessor reserves the right to pause or postpone an assessment where an individual is becoming unduly upset by the process. 

• Video and audio recording may be used during the assessment for qualitative purposes. All recordings will be destroyed once the assessment process is complete. Please talk to your assessor if you have any concerns. 

Payment terms

• The initial deposit payment of £270, secures the date and time of the assessment. We will hold the booking for 14 days after issuing the invoice. Please contact us if this presents any concerns.

• If the assessor is required to travel, a £10 administrative fee will be requested with the payment.

• The remaining balance of £270 will be invoiced separately after the assessment and to be settled before the report is produced.

• The assessor will be unable to complete a report where full payment has not been made. 

After assessment

• A follow-up phone call is offered to discuss assessment results.

• The report will be completed within 2-3 weeks and will be supplied via e-mail as a password protected PDF. This will be written to the required standard and adhere to the guidelines outlined by The SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC). 

• If the learner shows signs of a visual difficulty during the assessment, the assessor reserves the right to withhold an assessment report until the extent/impact of any visual difficulties has been determined.

• If necessary, further follow up tests may be needed. Time and venue for these will be arranged after the initial testing. No further charge will be made for these tests.

• Minor amendments to the background information may be requested up to 30 days after a report has been received.

• Once a report has been finalised (no later than 30 days after the report has been submitted), this concludes the assessment process.  

Privacy Policy

• The assessor adheres to Data Protection Guidance and is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals. Accordingly, all personal data collected will be subject to the Privacy Policy, submitted separately. 

• Following the assessment and the compilation of the final assessment report all client questionnaires, all raw data test sheets and all other personal data will be permanently deleted/destroyed. 

• The final assessment report will be held by the assessor for 7 years after the client’s 18 birthday or for 7 years for an adult. During this time, you will be able to ask for an electronic copy of the report. However, we would strongly recommend that you keep a copy of your report securely. After this time the assessor will not be able to supply you with a copy of your report.