South Lincolnshire
Dyslexia Assessments in Bourne, Market Deeping and across South Lincolnshire
South Lincolnshire is a mix of market towns, villages and rural communities, with families travelling between Bourne, the Deepings, Spalding, Stamford and Grantham for education and specialist support. Distances are real here, and the nearest assessor has rarely been nearby.
For families, concerns often become more noticeable as the demands of school increase, a child who is bright and capable but finds reading, spelling, writing or working at speed much harder than expected. In a county where grammar schools and the 11+ remain part of the landscape, that pattern carries extra weight.
- 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
- Bourne
- Market Deeping
- Deeping St James
- Spalding
- Langtoft
- Baston
- Pinchbeck
- Morton
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 South Lincolnshire, 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 South Lincolnshire 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
Why families across South Lincolnshire get in touch
Families from Bourne, Market Deeping, Deeping St James, Spalding and the surrounding villages come for a range of reasons. Some have had concerns raised by school; others have noticed difficulties themselves despite their child appearing to be progressing perfectly well.
Adults and university students also seek assessment here, to understand longstanding difficulties, or to provide diagnostic evidence for support at university or in the workplace.
Many people start by searching for a "dyslexia test" in South Lincolnshire. What is provided is a full diagnostic dyslexia assessment, carried out by a qualified specialist assessor and resulting in a detailed report with practical recommendations for education, university, work or everyday life. Children are assessed from age 8.
Where the assessment takes place
Home assessments are available and are usually the most convenient option for families in this area. Assessments can also be arranged at schools or suitable local venues where appropriate.
Remote assessment is available right across South Lincolnshire and is often the practical choice for families in the more rural villages. Where a venue has to be hired for a face-to-face session, a small additional fee may apply and is agreed with you first.
Dyslexia assessments and the 11+
If your child is preparing for the 11+, you may be wondering whether difficulties with reading, spelling, processing speed or working under timed conditions could be affecting their performance.
A full diagnostic assessment builds a much clearer picture of your child's strengths and difficulties. That is particularly useful for children who appear academically able but find that reading, writing or working quickly takes considerably more effort than expected.
An assessment is not simply about gaining extra time. A diagnosis of dyslexia does not automatically mean access arrangements will be awarded. Each grammar school, consortium or testing authority sets its own criteria and runs its own application process. What a diagnostic report can do is provide detailed evidence of your child's profile and identify where adjustments or support may be appropriate.
Where possible, arrange an assessment well before 11+ registration and access arrangement deadlines. That leaves time to understand the findings, discuss them with school, and check the requirements of the particular 11+ provider.
Two points are worth being clear about. The admission authority, grammar school or consortium sets its own requirements and decides any arrangements for the 11+, and a diagnosis of dyslexia does not automatically mean extra time or any other adjustment. Nor does an assessment, or any arrangement, guarantee a place. Contact the admission authority early and ask what they require and by when. Access arrangements are about fair access to the test, not about passing it.
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 South Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire County Council
Lincolnshire SEND Local Offer
Covers Bourne, the Deepings, Spalding and the surrounding villages.
Open the South Lincolnshire Local OfferFor free, impartial advice about school support, EHC needs assessments or disagreements, contact Liaise Lincolnshire.
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 South Lincolnshire
These are independent organisations, not part of Defining Dyslexia. They are free to contact and worth using alongside (or before) a private assessment.
Liaise Lincolnshire
Free, impartial SEND information, advice and support for Lincolnshire families.
County Offices, Newland, Lincoln, LN1 1YQ · 0800 195 1635 · liaise@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Visit websiteKnowledge Centre
Guidance for families in South Lincolnshire
They're meeting expectations, so why does everything feel so hard?
When a capable child is coping on the surface but working far harder than their peers.
ReadDyslexia and exam access arrangements: what schools need to provide
Who decides access arrangements, and what evidence the school needs.
ReadWhat happens after a dyslexia assessment: a guide for adults
Using a report at work, in study, and for your own understanding.
ReadQuestions we are asked locally
South Lincolnshire: frequently asked questions
01My child is preparing for the 11+. Can a dyslexia assessment help?
It can be particularly helpful where a child appears academically able but finds reading, spelling, processing or working at speed harder than expected. A diagnosis does not automatically entitle a child to extra time or other adjustments in the 11+, access arrangements are determined by the relevant testing authority under its own criteria. A diagnostic report provides evidence of your child's individual profile. If the 11+ is a consideration, arrange the assessment well before registration and access arrangement deadlines.
02Do you provide assessments right across South Lincolnshire?
Yes. Children, young people and adults across Bourne, Market Deeping, Deeping St James, Spalding, Stamford and the surrounding towns and villages. Home assessments are often the most convenient option, school or local venue appointments can be arranged where appropriate, and remote assessment is available throughout.
03My child is doing well at school. Could they still be dyslexic?
Yes. Dyslexia does not prevent a child being academically able. Some develop effective strategies that mask their difficulties, particularly at primary school. Parents often notice instead that reading takes longer than expected, spelling stays inconsistent, or written work takes considerable effort, and that timed work is much harder than untimed. An assessment looks at the wider pattern rather than attainment alone.
04Do I need a referral from my child's school or GP?
No. You can arrange a private diagnostic assessment directly, without a referral from either. Where possible the school is asked for background information because it adds useful context, but you do not need the school's permission to have your child assessed privately.
05Do you assess adults in South Lincolnshire?
Yes, including people who wondered about dyslexia for years but were never assessed at school. Reasons vary, difficulty with reading, writing or processing at work, a return to education, or simply wanting to understand why certain things have always taken more effort. The assessment gives a clear diagnostic outcome and practical recommendations based on your profile.
06What happens after the assessment?
You receive a comprehensive diagnostic report explaining the findings, the strengths identified and any areas of difficulty, along with practical recommendations. For children this helps parents and schools plan support. For older students and adults it can also provide evidence when exploring support in further or higher education, including DSA, or reasonable adjustments at work.
About your assessor
You are booking with Mark
Every assessment in South Lincolnshire 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 South Lincolnshire
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.