She was kind, patient, and explained everything clearly, which helped me feel comfortable and confident.- C, aged 13

Overall, the service was supportive, informative, and extremely helpful. We are very grateful for the care and understanding shown and would highly recommend Victoria to other families seeking clarity and guidance.- Andrea, parent

frequently asked questions

What is Dyslexia?Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. Individuals with dyslexia may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning and the acquisition of literacy skills. Dyslexia can also have an impact on other areas, such as organisational skills.Each person with dyslexia will experience the condition in a way that is unique to them. As such, each person will show a unique set of strengths and challenges. However, if you know what to look for, there are common signs that can help you identify whether the difficulties experienced are consistent with a dyslexic profile. In such cases, further investigation could be beneficial.

What might Dyslexia look like?Primary Aged Children may:- Experience difficulties learning to read, write and spell.- Find it challenging to remember sequences such as the alphabet and months of the year.- Experience difficulties copying accurately from the board or textbook.- Experience difficulties remembering and following oral instructions.- Take longer than average to get started or complete written work.- Exhibit a discrepancy between their oral skills and the ability to record their thoughts on paper.- Experience a lack of self-confidence and increasing frustration.- In other ways be a bright and alert child.Secondary Aged Children may:- Have a tendency to read inaccurately and without adequate comprehension.- Have inconsistent spelling.- Have difficulty with planning and writing essays.- Have difficulty getting started and completing work.- Show a tendency to get ‘tied up’ using long words.- Display a tendency to confuse verbal instructions, places, times and dates.- Have find it difficult to learn a foreign language.- Suffer from low self-esteem.- Experience frustration which has led to behavioural or emotional difficulties.- Be disorganised at home and/ or school.

How can an assessment help my child?- It can help your child understand why they are experiencing difficulties, enable them to recognise their strengths and learn how to use them.- It will help your child understand their individual style of learning or working and what the most effective way for them to learn is.- It can help identify other factors that may be affecting your child's learning and signpost to appropriate professionals for further support.- It will provide specific recommendations for support with learning at school and at home.- It will suggest whether any Reasonable Adjustments will need to be made for your child to fully access the curriculum and exams.

What should I tell my child about the assessmentTell your child they are going to see someone who is interested in how people learn. The assessment will help to work out why some learning is difficult and what might help to make things easier.A social story with pictures of the assessor, the space and an explanation of the process can be provided if your child is feeling anxious about the assessment.

What will happen during an assessment?I will meet you at my base, which is within an independent school in Staines-Upon-Thames. Assessing the children in a school can often help them to achieve their best and they recognise it as a safe space. We ask parents to stay nearby, there is a cafe very close to the assessment centre.At the start of the assessment, there is usually an informal chat with the young person to gather a little more background information. A Full Diagnostic Assessment will usually take up to 3 hours to complete. The young person will be offered short breaks as needed to ensure they stay comfortable and focused. Please ensure that they bring any glasses or coloured overlays that they usually use, if appropriate.During a dyslexia assessment, I will carry out a series of standardised tests to explore areas such as:- reading, writing and spelling- handwriting and fine motor skills- cognitive skills, including phonological awareness, speed of processing and memory- general underlying ability, including verbal and visual skills.Children and young people will be offered breaks, and we normally find time to play some games.

What will happen after an assessment?Following the assessments, I will produce a written report. This will explain all of your child’s test scores and provide recommendations for support. This will be emailed to you within two weeks of your child’s assessment. Within the report, I will identify the strengths and challenges of the learning profile and provide tailored recommendations to enable school and parents to support your child. The diagnostic outcome will confirm whether or not a diagnosis of Dyslexia has been given.Once you have had a chance to read through the report, you may then arrange a telephone consultation to discuss any questions that you have.The diagnostic report will be accepted in support of an application for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA).

What will happen if Dyslexia is not diagnosed?At times, it may not be possible to offer a clear-cut diagnosis of dyslexia. However, a comprehensive report will be given, noting areas of strength and weakness, with detailed recommendations to support your child at home, in school and with a specialist teacher, if available. If necessary, details of other professionals will be given, or an onward referral will be made, such as an occupational therapist, behavioural optometrist, or speech and language therapist.

Full Diagnostic AssessmentAssessment for children and young people aged 8 to 18, carried out from Victoria's base in an educational setting in Staines-Upon-Thames.Includes:- Comprehensive assessment session- Detailed written report including personalised recommendations- 30 minute follow up phonecall if requiredPayment Details:Total cost: £550
Deposit to secure booking: £100
Balance: £450 payable at least 72 hours prior to assessmentPlease note that all children and young people must have had both sight and hearing tests within the previous 2 years in order to complete their assessment.

Learner ProfileAn assessment session for learners whom are too young for an official diagnosis, carried out from Victoria's base in an educational setting in Staines-Upon-Thames.Includes:- An assessment session, usually an hour long- Written report indicating strengths and areas of weakness- Indication of whether a full assessment may be needed in futurePayment Details:Total cost: £150
Deposit to secure booking: £50
Balance: £100 payable at least 72 hours prior to assessment