In a nutshell: Dyslexia is almost never formally diagnosed on the NHS in Kent. A school can identify difficulties and put support in place, but a formal SpLD (specific learning difficulty) diagnosis requires a private assessment. Expect to pay £400-£800 for a full report with a SASC-registered specialist assessor or chartered educational psychologist. A good report is powerful evidence for school support, EHCP applications, and exam access arrangements.
Signs Your Child May Be Dyslexic
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects reading, spelling, and writing. It is not a reflection of intelligence — dyslexic children have average to high cognitive ability, but their brains process written language differently. Signs show up in different ways depending on age.
Early years (ages 3-5)
- Late to talk, or muddled early speech
- Difficulty learning and recalling the names of familiar objects
- Trouble learning nursery rhymes, especially those that rhyme
- Difficulty recognising letters in their own name
- Family history of dyslexia (it is highly heritable)
Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7, Reception to Year 2)
- Difficulty linking letters to sounds (phonics)
- Reversing or confusing letters (b/d, p/q) beyond the typical early stage
- Reading that is slow, hesitant, and effortful
- Difficulty remembering the sequence of days of the week or months
- Frustration at reading time; sudden avoidance or tears
Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11, Years 3-6)
- Reading age well below chronological age (a gap of two or more years)
- Poor spelling, often phonetic ("sed" for "said")
- Difficulty copying from the board
- Handwriting that is messy or painfully slow
- A large gap between spoken and written work — bright ideas that come out poorly on paper
- Exhaustion after a school day; tearfulness about homework
Secondary school (ages 11+)
- Slow reading and writing that cannot keep up with lesson pace
- Struggles with note-taking and essay planning
- Difficulty memorising dates, formulae, and sequences
- Low self-esteem around academic work
- Avoidance of reading aloud or long written tasks
- Signs of school anxiety or school refusal
You know your child best. If several of these ring true, and the gap between your child's ideas and their written work is persistent, it is worth seeking an assessment. You do not need a teacher to raise the concern first.
The NHS vs Private Assessment Dilemma
Many Kent parents start by asking their GP for an NHS dyslexia assessment. It is one of the most common misunderstandings in SEND — and the answer is usually "the NHS does not do this."
What the NHS does do
NHS Kent services can help by:
- Ruling out hearing loss (Audiology)
- Ruling out vision problems (Orthoptics, Paediatric Ophthalmology)
- Assessing speech and language difficulties that affect literacy (community SALT)
- Looking at global developmental concerns (community paediatrics)
- In some cases, providing an educational psychologist assessment if your child has an EHCP or is referred by school as part of a statutory process
What the NHS almost never does is run a formal, standalone dyslexia diagnostic assessment. There is no NICE pathway for this. Local authority educational psychologists rarely assess for dyslexia specifically, and when they do it is as part of an EHC needs assessment.
Why private assessment is usually necessary
To get a formal SpLD diagnosis that is accepted by schools, exam boards, universities, and the Disabled Students' Allowance, you need an assessment by:
- A chartered educational psychologist registered with the HCPC and BPS, or
- A specialist teacher assessor holding a current SpLD Assessment Practising Certificate (APC), issued under SASC (the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee)
Most private assessors in Kent fall into one of these two categories. Both can produce reports that meet JCQ rules for exam access arrangements. Educational psychologist reports tend to be broader — they cover cognitive ability more fully — and are often stronger for EHCP evidence. Specialist teacher reports are more focused on literacy and are usually a few hundred pounds cheaper.
What an SpLD Assessment Involves
A full dyslexia assessment takes around three hours and produces a written report of 15-30 pages. A typical session covers:
- Background history — your observations as a parent, school reports, any earlier assessments, family history
- Cognitive ability tests — usually the WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) or WRIT, measuring verbal and non-verbal reasoning
- Attainment tests — commonly the WIAT-III UK (Wechsler Individual Achievement Test), measuring reading, spelling, comprehension, writing, and maths
- Reading tests — such as YARC (York Assessment of Reading for Comprehension) for more detailed reading profile
- Phonological processing — tests of how the brain handles the sounds of language (a core dyslexia marker)
- Working memory and processing speed — often significantly lower in dyslexic profiles
- Writing speed — DASH (Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting) is the standard
- A feedback meeting with parents (and often the child) to talk through findings
A good report does more than give a diagnosis — it sets out clear, specific recommendations for school, home, and any exam access arrangements. This is what makes the report useful.
Private Assessment Costs in Kent
Prices in Kent tend to sit in these ranges:
| Assessor type |
Typical Kent cost (2026) |
Best for |
| Specialist teacher assessor (SASC APC) | £400 – £550 | Focused SpLD report, exam access arrangements |
| Chartered educational psychologist | £600 – £850 | Broader cognitive profile, EHCP evidence |
| School-arranged SpLD screening | Usually free | Early identification, not a formal diagnosis |
| University clinic (e.g. Canterbury Christ Church) | £250 – £400 | Trainee-led under supervision, longer waits |
If you are on Universal Credit, Income Support, or a low household income, some assessors in Kent offer a sliding scale. It is always worth asking.
SASC-Registered Assessors — What to Look For
SASC (SpLD Assessment Standards Committee) is the recognised quality mark for specialist teacher assessors in the UK. When you shortlist an assessor, check:
- Current APC (Assessment Practising Certificate) — valid for three years, listed on the SASC website
- DBS clearance and safeguarding training
- Professional indemnity insurance
- JCQ-compliant report format if you may need exam access arrangements later
- Experience with your child's age group (primary, secondary, post-16)
- Clear pricing — one quote including assessment, report, and feedback
Chartered educational psychologists should be registered with both the HCPC (legal requirement) and the British Psychological Society. You can look up any EP on the HCPC online register.
Schools and Dyslexia — What They Must Do
Under the SEND Code of Practice 2015, every school in England has clear duties before any formal diagnosis exists. These apply to mainstream state schools, academies, and — with some differences — private schools.
The graduated approach
Schools should follow the assess-plan-do-review cycle:
- Assess — gather information on where the child is struggling. This can include in-house dyslexia screeners (Rapid, Dyslexia Portfolio, etc.)
- Plan — agree targeted support with parents, usually on a SEN support plan
- Do — put the support in place. Common provisions include phonics catch-up, coloured overlays, reader pens, laptop access, extra time
- Review — meet with parents termly to review progress and adjust
The SENCO is your main point of contact. Kent schools are not allowed to refuse to put SEN support in place because "there is no diagnosis yet." The Code of Practice is explicit: support is based on need, not on a label.
If school is not doing enough
If you feel school support is inadequate, you can:
- Ask for the school's SEN information report (every school must publish one)
- Request a meeting with the SENCO and class teacher
- Escalate to the headteacher in writing
- Contact Kent SENDIASS for free, impartial advice
- Consider a private assessment to give the school clearer recommendations to act on
- Apply for an EHCP if needs are severe and unmet
Using a Dyslexia Diagnosis as EHCP Evidence
A full dyslexia report is strong EHCP evidence, but on its own it is rarely enough. A successful EHCP application usually needs:
- A specialist assessment (EP or SpLD teacher)
- Evidence of the graduated approach — usually two or more terms of targeted SEN support
- Pupil progress data showing the gap is not closing despite intervention
- Input from all professionals involved (class teacher, SENCO, GP, any therapists)
- A parent statement explaining impact at home and your aspirations for your child
Our EHCP application guide for Kent walks through the whole process. Parents who go to a SEND tribunal win 99% of hearings, according to the Ministry of Justice 2024-25 figures — but good evidence is what wins those cases.
Access Arrangements for GCSEs and Exams
Dyslexic students can apply for exam access arrangements through JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) rules. Common arrangements include:
- 25% extra time — the most common arrangement
- A reader or reader pen
- A scribe for students whose handwriting is too slow
- A word processor with spellcheck disabled
- Separate invigilation in a small room
- Supervised rest breaks
- Prompts to stay on task (for ADHD co-occurrence)
Two conditions must be met:
- Evidence of need — standardised scores in literacy or processing below the relevant JCQ threshold, usually from a recent SpLD assessment
- Normal way of working — the arrangement must reflect what the student already uses in class. A school cannot apply for 25% extra time in Year 11 for a child who has never had it in lessons before
The school SENCO applies through the JCQ online portal, usually in Year 10. Parents should confirm with the SENCO early in secondary school that the process is being followed.
Kent-Specific Resources
Several Kent-based organisations specialise in dyslexia support and assessment:
- Dyslexia South East — long-established SpLD service covering West Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. Offers both specialist teacher assessments and one-to-one tuition
- Dittas Dyslexia Services — independent SpLD specialists working across Kent with SASC-registered assessors and literacy tutors
- Dyslexia East Kent Support — community-focused service supporting families across East Kent and Thanet
- Canterbury Christ Church University Dyslexia Clinic — lower-cost assessments by trainees under supervision, with a waiting list
- British Dyslexia Association (BDA) — national helpline, approved tutor list, and accredited assessor directory
Our full Kent educational psychologist directory also lists EPs who offer SpLD assessments.
Adult Dyslexia Assessments
Many parents realise during their child's assessment that they are dyslexic themselves. Adult assessments follow a similar three-hour format and cost roughly the same (£450-£900 in Kent). For adults, the most common reasons to get assessed are:
- Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) — for those going to university, DSA provides software, equipment, and study support worth thousands. Requires a post-16 diagnostic assessment
- Workplace adjustments — under the Equality Act 2010, reasonable adjustments at work include dyslexia-friendly software, additional time, quieter workspaces
- Access to Work — a government scheme that funds workplace support for disabled adults, including assistive technology, coaching, and communication support
- Self-understanding — many adults describe a profound sense of relief at finally having an explanation for lifelong struggles
Funding a Private Assessment
£400-£800 is a real barrier for many families. Routes that can help:
- DLA — if your child has additional learning difficulties that affect daily care, DLA may be awardable. See our DLA guide
- Carer's Allowance — £86.45/week (2026-27) if you care for a child on middle or highest rate DLA care
- Charity grants — Family Fund, Buttle UK, and local Kent charities sometimes fund assessments as part of wider support
- School contribution — some schools, especially private and grammar schools, will fund or part-fund an assessment where they are considering exam access arrangements
- Payment plans — several Kent assessors offer monthly payment plans
- University clinics — lower-cost trainee-led assessments
Tip: If you are applying for an EHCP, a specialist report often pays for itself many times over. A strong report can be the difference between an EHCP with specific, quantified provision in Section F and a refusal at initial decision.
What Happens After the Assessment
Once the report arrives:
- Share it with the school SENCO — request a meeting to discuss how recommendations will be implemented. Take notes
- Use the recommendations — most reports list specific interventions, classroom strategies, and assistive technology. Ask which the school will provide and which you will need to arrange
- Apply for exam access arrangements early in Year 10 at the latest
- Feed it into EHCP applications if needs are complex
- Review every three years — JCQ access arrangement evidence has to be no more than three years old at the time of exams. EP reports for EHCPs are usually considered valid for about two years
- Celebrate with your child — a diagnosis is not a problem, it is a piece of information. It lets you and your child make sense of how their brain works and set up the support that fits
Key Takeaways
- The NHS does not usually diagnose dyslexia — private assessment is the main route
- Cost in Kent is £400-£800 for a full report with a SASC assessor or chartered EP
- Schools must support before diagnosis — the Code of Practice requires assess-plan-do-review
- A good report is strong EHCP evidence but rarely enough on its own
- Exam access arrangements need evidence plus the child's normal way of working
- Funding routes exist — DLA, charity grants, university clinics, payment plans
- Assessment is valuable at any age — including adults realising mid-life
Useful Resources
This is not medical advice. This guide is for general information only. Dyslexia presents in many ways and overlaps with other conditions. Always consult a qualified specialist assessor or chartered educational psychologist for advice about your child's specific needs.
Read our full disclaimer.