Derbyshire & the Peak District
Dyslexia Assessments in Chesterfield and the Peak District
Families across Chesterfield and the Peak District can wait a long time for the right dyslexia support, and distance is a large part of why. Chesterfield sits in Derbyshire, a short drive from the Sheffield base, and the surrounding area (Dronfield, Staveley, Bolsover, Clay Cross) is covered face-to-face.
Further into the Peak District, around Matlock, Bakewell, Buxton and the Hope Valley, a trip to a city assessor can mean the best part of a day out for a family. That is exactly the barrier remote assessment removes, and it is why so many Peak District families choose it.
- Children from age 8, adults and students
- Face-to-face locally, or remote UK-wide
- Mark, PATOSS-registered assessor
- £495 including the full written report
Transparent pricing
£495
A full diagnostic dyslexia assessment, including the comprehensive written report and practical recommendations. Where a venue has to be hired, or where an adult assessment includes screening for co-occurring difficulties, any additional fee is discussed and agreed with you before anything is confirmed.
See full pricingAreas covered
- Chesterfield
- Dronfield
- Staveley
- Bolsover
- Clay Cross
- Matlock
- Bakewell
- Hope Valley
Remote assessments are available anywhere in the UK.
Face-to-face that comes to you
Assessment shouldn't add another journey to the week. Across Chesterfield & the Peak District, Mark travels to you, and remote assessment is available where that suits better.
- At home
- At school
- An agreed setting
- Remotely
Availability depends on location and on the room being quiet and suitable, so it is worth asking early. There is no assessment centre to visit.
Who assessments are for
Assessments in Chesterfield & the Peak District for children, adults and students
Children from age 8
For parents who have raised concerns at school and want a clear answer rather than another wait.
Read moreAdults
For people who have managed for years and want to understand why certain things take more effort.
Read moreUniversity & college students
For students needing SASC-standard diagnostic evidence for DSA and study support.
Read moreLocal picture
Rural Derbyshire: distance, provision and the remote option
Derbyshire is a large county with its SEND services spread thinly across it, and specialist SpLD assessors are concentrated in the cities on its edges. For a family in Tideswell or Castleton, the nearest assessor has traditionally meant Sheffield, Derby or Manchester.
Derbyshire's Information, Advice and Support Service (DIASS) offers free impartial advice to families anywhere in the county, and the Derbyshire Local Offer sets out available provision. Both are worth using before you commit to anything paid.
A remote assessment is carried out from your own home, which many children find more comfortable than an unfamiliar building, and it removes a round trip that can otherwise take a whole day. Reports meet the same standards and are used in the same way by Derbyshire schools, exam boards, universities and employers.
Where the assessment takes place
Chesterfield and the surrounding towns are covered for face-to-face assessments at home, at school where the school agrees, or at a local venue.
For families deeper into the Peak District, remote assessment is usually the better option, not a lesser one. The session runs over a secure video platform, typically Microsoft Teams, with Mark guiding each task exactly as he would in person, at an unhurried pace with breaks built in. The resulting report meets the same SASC standards as an in-person report.
The assessment itself
What a full diagnostic assessment involves
An assessment usually takes around two to three hours, with breaks, and can be split across two shorter sessions where that would suit better. It begins with a conversation about background, education and what has prompted the enquiry, followed by a series of standardised tasks.
Those tasks look at underlying cognitive processing, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, phonological processing, working memory and processing speed, alongside attainment in reading, spelling and writing. It is the relationship between those areas, not any single score, that determines whether the profile meets the criteria for dyslexia.
Every assessment is carried out to the standards set by SASC, and the written report follows within an agreed timescale. It sets out the findings in plain English, explains what they mean day to day, and makes practical recommendations for school, college, university, work or home.
What you receive
- A full diagnostic report written to SASC standards
- A clear explanation of strengths as well as difficulties
- A formal diagnostic outcome where the criteria are met
- Practical recommendations for education, work or study
- A follow-up conversation to talk the findings through
Local SEND information
The Local Offer for Chesterfield & the Peaks
Derbyshire County Council
Derbyshire Local Offer
SEND provision across the county, including the rural north-east Derbyshire and Peak District communities.
Open the Chesterfield & the Peaks Local OfferFor free, impartial advice about school support, EHC needs assessments or disagreements, contact Derbyshire Information, Advice and Support Service (DIASS).
How this fits with an assessment
Every local authority in England must publish a Local Offer setting out the SEND provision available in its area. Defining Dyslexia is an independent specialist assessment service and is not part of, commissioned by or endorsed by any local authority. These links are provided because they are genuinely useful sources of wider information.
A diagnostic assessment is one form of evidence. The Local Offer is where you find what your council already provides, and what to ask for locally.
See every area we coverUseful local information
Dyslexia and SEND support in Chesterfield & the Peak District
These are independent organisations, not part of Defining Dyslexia. They are free to contact and worth using alongside (or before) a private assessment.
Derbyshire Information, Advice and Support Service (DIASS)
Free, impartial SEND advice for Derbyshire families.
New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, S40 1QJ · 01629 533668
Visit websiteKnowledge Centre
Guidance for families in Chesterfield & the Peak District
Can a dyslexia assessment be done remotely?
How a remote assessment works and when it suits a family better than travelling.
ReadHow to find a dyslexia assessment near you
Comparing local, national and online options before you commit.
ReadMy child's school says they can't diagnose dyslexia: what now?
What schools can and cannot do, and where a formal assessment fits in.
ReadQuestions we are asked locally
Chesterfield & the Peak District: frequently asked questions
01I live in the Peak District. Is a remote assessment as good as face-to-face?
It is a genuinely equivalent option, not a compromise. Remote assessments follow the same SASC standards, use the same tasks delivered over a secure video platform, and produce the same report. For a family in Bakewell or the Hope Valley it also removes a long round trip, which usually makes for a calmer child on the day.
02Do you travel to Chesterfield for face-to-face assessments?
Yes. Chesterfield, Dronfield, Staveley, Bolsover and Clay Cross are all within the regular face-to-face travel area from Sheffield. Assessments take place at home, at school where the school agrees, or at a local venue arranged for the session.
03How far into Derbyshire do you go in person?
It depends on the day and the appointment. Matlock and Bakewell are sometimes possible face-to-face; villages further out are usually better served remotely. The honest answer is to ask. It is discussed at enquiry stage rather than guessed at here.
04Will Derbyshire schools accept a remotely conducted assessment?
A remote assessment produces a full SASC-standard diagnostic report, which is the evidence schools, colleges and exam boards look for. Individual decisions about support and access arrangements are made by the school under JCQ rules, using that evidence.
05What equipment do I need for a remote assessment?
A laptop or desktop with a webcam, a reliable internet connection, and a quiet room where you or your child will not be interrupted. Everything else is talked through with you beforehand, and a short technical check is done in advance.
06Can adults in Chesterfield be assessed?
Yes. Adult assessments are available face-to-face in Chesterfield or remotely anywhere in Derbyshire. Where screening for co-occurring difficulties such as ADHD or dyspraxia is included, a small additional fee applies and is discussed at enquiry stage.
About your assessor
You are booking with Mark
Every assessment in Chesterfield & the Peak District is carried out by Mark personally. He is a PATOSS-registered specialist assessor with fifteen years of experience working with children, young people and adults, and holds a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC), working to the standards set by SASC.
He is a qualified teacher and former SENCo, which shapes how the reports are written, for the people who have to use them. You will not be allocated to an unknown assessor by a national company: you speak to Mark at enquiry, he carries out the assessment, and he writes the report.
More about MarkTaking the next step in Chesterfield & the Peak District
Tell us a little about the situation and we will reply within one working day. If you would rather talk it through first, a free 15-minute telephone call is often the easiest place to start.
Not sure yet? Try a free dyslexia indicator check.