Finding the Right Assessor:

A Parent’s Guide

One of the questions I’m asked most often — in consultations, in messages, in the parent groups I’m part of — is some version of: “I know my child needs an assessment. But who do I actually go to?”

The answer depends on what you’re trying to find out. A dyslexia assessment involves different professionals with different qualifications from an autism assessment. Dyscalculia has stricter assessor requirements than most parents realise. And there’s a whole layer of credential-checking that nobody really explains to you upfront.

This article is a starting point — a plain-English guide to who can assess for the most common learning difficulties and developmental conditions, and how to find them. It isn’t exhaustive. And some of it will date, which is why I review it annually and update the links.

A note on home education

If your child is home educated, none of the routes below require school involvement. You can commission a private assessment, or in some cases self-refer to NHS services, without a school referral. Where a GP referral is the starting point, your GP can refer directly.

A note on diagnosis and school support

A formal diagnosis isn’t required for a child to receive support in school. Under the SEND Code of Practice, schools have a duty to identify and support children with additional needs regardless of whether a diagnosis is in place. If you’re considering an assessment primarily to unlock school support, it’s worth knowing this first — a diagnosis can strengthen a case, but it isn’t the only route. If you’re not sure which section applies to your child, start with the dyslexia and SpLD section if reading, spelling, or language processing is the main concern. Many assessors in that section are happy to have a brief conversation before you book — it’s worth asking, as they can often tell you whether a full assessment is likely to be useful. If the picture feels more complex or you’re not sure where to start at all, the educational psychologist section is worth reading — EPs can assess across a wider range of difficulties than specialist teacher assessors.

Dyslexia and SpLD (Specific Learning Difficulties)

Dyslexia and other SpLDs — including reading, spelling, phonological, and language-processing difficulties — can be assessed by a specialist teacher assessor or an educational psychologist. For a specialist teacher assessor, the key check is a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC). An APC confirms that the assessor holds a Level 7 postgraduate qualification in SpLD assessment, completes regular CPD, and has their reports reviewed externally. APCs are issued by PATOSS, the BDA, or the Dyslexia Guild — all following the national standards set by SASC (the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee). They’re renewed every three years. The SASC find-an-assessor directory shows whether an assessor’s APC is current — you can check before you even make contact. You don’t need to ask. A report produced by an assessor with a current APC doesn’t expire. If your child is assessed at eight and goes on to university, the report remains valid for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) and university access arrangements — you won’t need a new assessment. I’ve written a separate article explaining what an APC is and why it matters.

How to find an assessor:

Dyscalculia and maths learning difficulties

The assessor requirements for dyscalculia are stricter than for dyslexia, and worth knowing before you book. A formal diagnostic assessment for dyscalculia should only be carried out by an assessor with a Level 7 qualification in the assessment of dyscalculia specifically — not a dyslexia qualification alone. The SASC updated its maths difficulties and dyscalculia guidance in March 2025, which is the current authoritative source for what assessors need to do. In practice, there are relatively few assessors with this specific qualification. The BDA runs its own Dyscalculia Assessment Service and is a reliable starting point, the Dyslexia Network also run a directory. The SASC maths difficulties guidance (March 2025) at explains the qualification requirements if you want to check a private assessor’s credentials.

Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Dyspraxia and DCD are terms often used interchangeably, though DCD is the formal clinical term. For children, diagnosis is typically made by a paediatrician, often working alongside an occupational therapist. Both are regulated by the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council). The NHS pathway is: GP referral to community paediatrics and/or occupational therapy service. Waiting times vary considerably by area. Private options include paediatric occupational therapists and community paediatricians. SASC updated its guidance on DCD/dyspraxia in November 2025 — if you’re looking at a private assessor who is a specialist teacher rather than a medical professional, it’s worth checking the SASC DCD guidance to understand what’s current.

To verify a paediatrician’s or OT’s registration: hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register

Dysgraphia and written expression difficulties

Dysgraphia isn’t a separately regulated diagnostic category in the UK in the way dyslexia is. A child won’t receive a standalone ‘dysgraphia’ diagnosis on the NHS — what they’ll receive is a profile describing their difficulties with handwriting, fine motor control, or written expression.

Where handwriting and fine motor difficulties are the primary concern, an occupational therapist assessment is often the most useful starting point. Where the concern is more about written expression — difficulty organising and producing writing despite adequate fine motor skills — this may emerge within a dyslexia or SpLD assessment instead, or via an educational psychologist. The two can complement each other, and it’s worth being clear with any assessor upfront about what you’re most concerned about.

ADHD

An ADHD diagnosis for a child should only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician, or other qualified health professional with training and expertise in ADHD - not by an SpLD assessor. The NHS pathway for children is: GP referral to CAMHS or community paediatrician, depending on age and local provision.

If waiting times are a problem, parents in England have a legal right to choose which NHS provider carries out their child’s assessment - including providers with shorter waiting lists. This is called Right to Choose, and it applies in England only. In practice, some local NHS bodies have introduced restrictions — what's available depends on where you live. Before your GP submits a referral, check the ADHD UK postcode tool (adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose) to see whether your area is currently accepting Right to Choose referrals and what the current wait times are.

Private assessments are also available from paediatricians and child psychiatrists. NICE guidelines (NG87) set out what a compliant ADHD assessment should include — worth checking that any private assessment meets these before booking. ADHD UK has a clear, practical guide to ADHD diagnosis pathways for children at adhduk.co.uk/adhd-diagnosis-pathways-children

Autism

Autism diagnosis for children in the UK is a multi-disciplinary process — it involves more than one professional and more than one type of assessment. It is not something a single assessor can confirm in a one-off appointment. The NHS pathway is: GP referral to CAMHS or community paediatrics. Waiting times for NHS autism assessments are long in most areas — often over a year, sometimes considerably more. Private assessments are available from paediatricians or child psychiatrists with relevant training and experience. The ADOS-2 is a widely used assessment tool, but administering it doesn’t constitute a diagnosis — the final diagnostic decision requires a qualified clinician with a diagnostic mandate (typically a paediatrician, child psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist). NHS guidance is that autism assessments must involve a multi-disciplinary team with at least two clinicians from different professional backgrounds.

For guidance on what to look for in a private assessment: National Autistic Society - getting a diagnosis, at autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/diagnosis/before-diagnosis/how-to-request-an-autism-assessment

Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)

If your child has difficulties with understanding and using language — including expressive language, receptive language, speech sounds, or social communication — a Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) is who you need. SALTs are regulated by the HCPC. In many areas you can self-refer directly to NHS speech and language therapy services for children; in others, a GP or health visitor referral is needed. Private SALTs are also available. SLCN co-occurs frequently with literacy difficulties, and it’s worth considering whether a speech and language assessment might be useful alongside or before an SpLD assessment — particularly where a child has language comprehension difficulties as well as reading or spelling concerns.

To find an NHS or private SALT, or to check registration: hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register

Visual stress

Visual stress comes up a lot in conversations about reading difficulties — but it’s more contested territory than it might appear. SASC published updated guidance on SpLDs and visual difficulties in June 2025, which is clear that visual stress is not a defining feature of dyslexia and that SpLD assessors are not qualified to assess for it. If symptoms suggestive of visual stress are present, an SpLD assessor should refer to an optometrist, not attempt to assess it themselves. If visual difficulties are a concern — including light sensitivity, text appearing to move, or difficulty with contrast — the starting point is an optometrist, not a dyslexia assessor. A specialist optometrist with experience of visual stress can assess more thoroughly if needed.

The SASC guidance on SpLDs and visual difficulties (June 2025) is at sasc.org.uk/sasc-downloads and is publicly available.

Educational psychologists

An educational psychologist (EP) can assess across a wider range of learning, developmental, and cognitive profiles than a specialist teacher assessor — including dyslexia, dyscalculia, DCD, and broader cognitive profiles. They can also contribute to EHCP processes. The title ‘Educational Psychologist’ is a protected title — anyone using it must be registered with the HCPC. You can verify registration at hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register. The British Psychological Society (BPS) holds a directory of chartered psychologists at bps.org.uk — useful for finding a private EP. Private EP assessments typically cost more than specialist teacher assessments, but they can be worth considering where the picture is complex, where EHCP work is involved, or where a broader cognitive profile is needed.

Before you book

Before you book anything, it’s worth asking:

  • What qualifications do you hold, and can I see evidence?

  • Do you hold a current DBS certificate?

  • What does the assessment cost, and is there a report included in the fee?

  • Is your report format appropriate for what I need it for — exam access arrangements, an EHCP, DSA?

  • How long is your waiting list?

  • What does the report cover, and what does it not cover?

If you want to think through which type of assessment makes most sense for your child before committing, a Raking the Fire consultation is designed for exactly that.

This article was last reviewed May 2026. Links and accreditation requirements are checked annually if you find a broken link, please get in touch.

Related reading:

Useful Links

Dyslexia and SpLD

Dyscalculia

Dyspraxia / DCD

ADHD

Autism

SLCN

Visual stress

Educational psychologists

REFERENCES

Sources used in the research and drafting of this article. All URLs confirmed active as of May 2026. SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) National register of APC holders; assessment guidance across all SpLDs.

SASC — Find an assessor National register of APC holders, searchable by name or APC code. Shows current APC status and issuing body. sasc.org.uk/find-an-assessor/

SASC — Guidance on Assessment of Mathematics Difficulties and Dyscalculia (March 2025) Updated guidance on who can assess for dyscalculia and what the assessment must cover. sasc.org.uk/news/maths-difficulties-and-dyscalculia-guidance-march-25/ — full document (docx): sasc.org.uk/sasc-downloads/

SASC — SpLDs and Visual Difficulties (June 2025) Updated guidance confirming visual stress is not a defining feature of dyslexia and that SpLD assessors should refer to an optometrist. sasc.org.uk/news/new-sasc-guidance-available-on-splds-and-visual-difficulties-june-2025/ — full document (pdf): sasc.org.uk/media/l2hfsbmh/sasc-splds-and-visual-difficulties-june-2025.pdf

SASC — DCD/Dyspraxia guidance (November 2025) Updated guidance on assessment of Developmental Coordination Disorder. Full document not yet retrievable via web fetch. sasc.org.uk/assessment-guidance/

British Dyslexia Association (BDA) — Diagnostic assessments BDA assessment service; information on what a diagnostic assessment involves and who can carry it out. bdadyslexia.org.uk/services/assessments/diagnostic-assessments

BDA — How is dyslexia diagnosed? Overview of the diagnostic process and credential requirements. bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/how-is-dyslexia-diagnosed/dyslexia-diagnostic-assessment

BDA — SASC definition of a Specific Learning Difficulty in Mathematics (2025) Plain-English overview of the updated dyscalculia definition. bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyscalculia/sasc-definition-of-a-specific-learning-difficulty-in-mathematics-202

PATOSS Tutor/Assessor Index Directory of PATOSS-registered tutors and assessors. Requires free registration. APC status verifiable via the SASC directory. patoss-dyslexia.org/tutor-index-landing

Dyslexia Guild Members’ Directory Searchable directory; shows whether members hold an APC. dyslexiaguild.org.uk/guild-members-directory/

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) — Check the register. Statutory register for educational psychologists, occupational therapists, paediatricians, speech and language therapists, and other regulated professionals. hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/

British Psychological Society (BPS) — Find a psychologist. Directory of chartered psychologists; useful for finding a private educational psychologist. bps.org.uk/find-psychologist

NHS — Developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia) in children. NHS overview of DCD diagnosis and treatment pathways.

nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia-in-children/ NHS — ADHD — Diagnosis

NHS overview of the ADHD diagnosis pathway for children. nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/diagnosis/

NICE — Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87)

NICE guidelines setting out what a compliant ADHD assessment should include. nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87

ADHD UK — Right to Choose

Plain-English guide to NHS Right to Choose for ADHD assessments; postcode checker for

local restrictions; wait times tracker updated monthly. adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/

ADHD UK — ADHD diagnosis pathways for children. Practical guide to the NHS and private routes to ADHD diagnosis for children. adhduk.co.uk/adhd-diagnosis-pathways-children/

National Autistic Society — How to request an autism assessment. Guidance on what to look for in a private autism assessment; NHS pathway overview. autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/diagnosis/before-diagnosis/how-to-request-an-autism-assessment

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) — How to find a speech and language therapist. Overview of NHS and private SALT routes; professional body for SALTs. rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/

Dyscalculia Network — Assessor & Tutor Finder. UK’s only exclusively dyscalculia specialist assessor and tutor directory, searchable by postcode. dyscalculianetwork.com

Department for Education — SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years (2015). Statutory guidance; schools’ duties to identify and support children with additional needs. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/3988 15/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf