Sheffield & South Yorkshire
Dyslexia Assessments in Sheffield
Sheffield is one of the largest cities in England, with a diverse and growing SEND community across the city and the wider South Yorkshire area. Whether you are a parent whose child has been struggling at school for some time, an adult who has long suspected dyslexia might explain your experiences, or a student at the University of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam preparing a DSA application, a full diagnostic assessment gives you something clear and concrete to work with.
Sheffield is Defining Dyslexia's northern base, and it is the area Mark travels across most often, the city itself, out to Stocksbridge and the north-west edge, and down towards the Derbyshire boundary. Many people search for a "dyslexia test" in Sheffield when what they actually need is a full diagnostic assessment, and that is what is provided here.
- 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
- Sheffield city centre
- Hillsborough and the north
- Ecclesall and the south-west
- Stocksbridge
- Chapeltown
- Mosborough and the east
- Dronfield border
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 Sheffield, 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 Sheffield 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
Assessment in Sheffield: the local picture
Sheffield City Council publishes a SEND Local Offer covering support across the city, and Sheffield SENDIAS provides free, impartial advice to families. Both are genuinely useful, and worth reading before you spend anything.
What neither can provide is a formal diagnostic assessment. Schools can identify concerns, put support in place and apply for exam access arrangements, but a school cannot diagnose dyslexia. There is no routine NHS route either. For most Sheffield families, a private specialist assessment is the realistic way to get a formal answer.
Sheffield is also home to two large universities (the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam) with substantial student populations. Students who need diagnostic evidence for a Disabled Students' Allowance application need a SASC-compliant report from a qualified assessor, which is what Defining Dyslexia provides.
Where the assessment takes place
Face-to-face assessments across Sheffield can take place in your own home, at your child's school where the school agrees, or at a suitable local venue arranged for the session.
Defining Dyslexia does not run an assessment centre or clinic in Sheffield. That is deliberate, travelling to the family is usually kinder for a child than sitting a long assessment in an unfamiliar building. Where a room has to be hired, a small additional venue fee may apply, and it is always discussed and agreed with you before anything is booked.
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 Sheffield
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield Local Offer (Sheffield Directory)
Education, health and social care provision for children and young people with SEND across the city, plus how to raise concerns with school.
Open the Sheffield Local OfferFor free, impartial advice about school support, EHC needs assessments or disagreements, contact Sheffield SENDIAS.
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 Sheffield
These are independent organisations, not part of Defining Dyslexia. They are free to contact and worth using alongside (or before) a private assessment.
Sheffield SENDIAS
Free, impartial SEND information, advice and support for families.
Floor 1, North Wing, 1 Union Street, Sheffield, S1 2SH · 0114 273 6009 · ssendias@sheffield.gov.uk
Visit websiteSheffield Parent Carer Forum
Local parent carer network representing families of children with SEND.
St Mary's Community Centre, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S2 4QZ · 0300 321 4721 · enquiries@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk
Visit websiteSheffield Local Offer
The council's directory of SEND services and provision across the city.
Visit websiteKnowledge Centre
Guidance for families in Sheffield
My child's school says they can't diagnose dyslexia: what now?
What schools can and cannot do, and where a formal assessment fits in.
ReadHow to choose a dyslexia assessor: 8 things to check
The questions worth asking any assessor, wherever they are based.
ReadWhat is DSA and how does it help students with dyslexia?
The evidence a university student needs for a Disabled Students' Allowance application.
ReadQuestions we are asked locally
Sheffield: frequently asked questions
01Can the assessment take place at my home in Sheffield?
Yes. Face-to-face assessments can be carried out at your home, at your child's school where the school agrees, or at a suitable local venue across Sheffield and South Yorkshire. Where a venue needs to be hired, the arrangement and any small additional fee are agreed with you in advance.
02Will Sheffield schools and colleges accept the report?
Reports are written to SASC standards, which is the evidence base schools, colleges, exam boards, universities and local authorities across the UK look for. Each organisation still applies its own criteria and makes its own decisions about support, so no assessor can guarantee a particular outcome. What the report does is give the school or college the specialist diagnostic evidence they need to act.
03Do you work with University of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam students?
Yes. Adults and students aged 16 and over are assessed regularly. A SASC-compliant diagnostic report is the type of evidence normally required for a DSA application and for access arrangements in higher education. The funding decision itself sits with the DSA assessor and Student Finance, not with Defining Dyslexia.
04How quickly can I get an appointment in Sheffield?
Waiting times are kept under two months, and are often considerably shorter. Remote appointments can frequently be arranged faster than face-to-face ones. Get in touch for current availability, a free 15-minute telephone call is the quickest way to find out.
05My child's school in Sheffield says it cannot diagnose dyslexia. What should I do?
This is very common and the school is correct. Schools identify concerns and put support in place, but a formal diagnostic assessment requires a qualified specialist assessor. A full assessment gives you and the school a clear picture of your child's profile, with practical recommendations that can be used straight away.
06How long does the assessment take?
Most assessments take around two to three hours. Split sessions are available where they would help, particularly for younger children or anyone who finds a long session difficult.
About your assessor
You are booking with Mark
Every assessment in Sheffield 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 MarkNearby
Other areas covered close to here
Doncaster
Across the borough, from Mexborough to Thorne.
ViewBarnsley
North along the M1, including Penistone and Hoyland.
ViewRotherham
A short drive east, regularly covered from Sheffield.
ViewChesterfield & the Peak District
South into Derbyshire and the Peak District.
ViewTaking the next step in Sheffield
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.