Monsarratt Dyslexia Services
Monsarratt Specialist Dyslexia Services offer full dyscalculia and dyslexia diagnostic assessments for both children and adults.
We first met owner Sarah-Jane in September 2020, just after she moved to the Terry Dicken Business Park. Let’s find out what’s been going on since then.
Celebrating family milestones
“On a personal level I’ve enjoyed some big life moments since we last spoke,” said Sarah-Jane. “This includes seeing my eldest son Thomas get married. He’s now travelling in Borneo. My youngest, William is just starting his university journey. He and I recently enjoyed a break in Italy, so I could grab that last bit of mother & son time before he flies the nest. So alongside running Monsarratt Specialist Dyslexia Services, I’ve been busy managing all the stuff that those moments bring!”
How lovely!
Professional network
“It’s just over 5 years since I started the business which, thankfully, survived through covid,” Sarah-Jane explained. “Demand has fuelled our growth, leading to a new admin role. I’ve also created a strong network of professionals who work together for the benefit of the customer. This includes a fellow assessor, experienced tutors and an optometrist. Since specific learning difficulties symptoms can overlap, accurate diagnostic assessments are crucial. We aim to unpick what the main barriers to learning are. To demonstrate, I now work closely with an optometrist to alleviate any visual difficulties before testing begins.”
Emerging research
“Over the past couple of years the Delphi Study has been undertaken to ensure consistent diagnosis among assessors. Currently, we work with two definitions, which makes things interesting! Assessments for children start at age 8, allowing time for intervention and reasonable adjustments to be put in place and the impact monitored by teaching staff. Assessors must renew qualifications every 3 years evidencing that they are up to date with assessment protocols. My current practising certificate was renewed last year and runs until mid-2026. Assessment findings last a lifetime, so the process must be robust.”
So how do assessments come about?
School assessments
“Concerns about a student may be raised by teaching staff. Such as a child not meeting the expectations for behaviour, falling behind despite intervention and school refusers. Teachers may have already put in place appropriate measures. If sufficient progress has not been made, the school may refer for an assessment. This is to ascertain a child’s learning preferences to see if there is an underlying cause to the difficulties they face. School assessments tend to be done in house, but circumstances may only allow for a shorter assessment to be completed. Following that, the child may come to my office for a full diagnostic assessment.”
Private dyslexia diagnostic assessments
“Parents may worry about their child’s progress or want them to better understand how they learn. Especially if they are dyslexic themselves. Often, students lack confidence, motivation or are seen as falling behind, and parents seek to identify any underlying causes. Before a private assessment there is always school involvement. This may include input from the head of year, teacher, or special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) and parents/carers. This is essential for a complete picture.”
University support
“University students who require additional support need a diagnostic assessments. The disabled student allowance helps with things like acquiring a note taker, laptop, reading software, study skills, or agreeing 25% of additional time. To apply, students must provide evidence of their specific learning difficulty on the student finance website. Therefore a diagnostic report completed by a qualified assessor with a current Assessment Practicing Certificate (APC) will be required at the point of application. This is to ensure a learning assessor can put things in place for the student, ready for when they attend their course. Additionally mature students may have been referred to us via the Open University for similar support measures.”
Rewarding moments
“Over the last 5 years I’ve met loads of really lovely families. It really makes my day when parents get back in touch with me. Sometimes it can be a year on when their child gets excellent GCSE results or their first choice university. I like being able to use my experience to help others.”
On that note, what would Sarah-Jane’s top tips be?
Dyslexia diagnostic assessments before university
“Many families wait until the last minute for a diagnostic assessment to support the disabled student allowance, but contacting an assessor in August likely won’t secure support for the new term. In my opinion, the ideal time for an assessment is in year 12. Because students in year 13 are already dealing with mock exams, driving lessons, university visits and subsequent interviews.
More cautionary, if you’re paying for an assessment, ensure the assessor has a valid APC. You can verify this on the national register of qualified, specialist teacher assessors holding a current Assessment Practising Certificate which is maintained by SASC.”
Sarah-Jane has been here for nearly 5 years now. What does she like about being a tenant on the Terry Dicken Business Park?
Convenient, clean & comfortable
“Families often praise the clean facilities and free parking here. I usually assess on the occasional quiet Saturday, offering extra space for families to wait comfortably. Being close to Stokesley High Street is convenient, especially for those with more than one child being assessed.”
Supporting local businesses
“It’s easy to support other businesses here. When the two tutors I work with are full, I recommend Julie at Connect2Education. A former SENCo and English teacher, Julie knows when to refer for dyslexia diagnostic assessments. I refer to her for those children needing emotional support as she’s an expert in that area. I also regularly use HFC Systems, Catch Designs and Direct Business Supplies.”
If you’d like to find out more about dyscalculia and dyslexia diagnostic assessments, Monsarratt Specialist Dyslexia Services can be found at: Office 10, 2 Roseberry Court, Terry Dicken Business Park, Ellerbeck Way, Stokesley TS9 5QT
Email Sarah-Jane or visit the website
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