Ulster Assessments

Simply send us a message using the contact form here stating what you would like an assessment for and your age/the age of the person that you're looking to book an assessment for.

We will then receive a reply with a range of available dates and times so that you can let us know which one suits you. 

All assessments are carried out by a SASC-registered specialist SpLD teacher assessor with an Assessment Practising Certificate which means that our diagnostic assessment reports are accepted by all relevant bodies, e.g. schools, colleges, training providers, universities, SEAG, EA, DSA, SFNI, Access to Work (NI).

£580 - this includes the processing of background information, the diagnostic assessment session itself and the 20+ page diagnostic assessment report that you will be provided with. There are no hidden costs. Payment can be made via cash, bank transfer, PayPal or Revolut. Euros are also welcome at the current exchange rate.

Approximately two hours but rest assured, breaks can be taken. Refreshments, tea/coffee making facilities and bathroom facilities are all available. For parents, there is also WiFi, a smart TV and workspace for those wishing to work or simply relax during their child's assessment.

You will receive your diagnostic assessment report within three days. 

Our diagnostic assessment reports are accepted by all relevant bodies, e.g. schools, colleges, training providers, universities, SEAG, EA, DSA, SFNI, Access to Work (NI).

Dyslexia is a neurological difference and can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life. The SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC, 2025) definition of dyslexia is as follows:

• Dyslexia is primarily a set of processing difficulties that affect the acquisition of reading and spelling.
• In dyslexia, some or all aspects of literacy attainment are weak in relation to age, standard teaching and instruction, and level of other attainments.
• Across languages and age groups, difficulties in reading and spelling fluency are a key marker of dyslexia.
• The nature and developmental trajectory of dyslexia depends on multiple genetic and environmental influences.
• Dyslexic difficulties exist on a continuum and can be experienced to various degrees of severity.
• Dyslexia can affect the acquisition of other skills, such as mathematics, reading comprehension or learning another language.
• The most commonly observed cognitive impairment in dyslexia is a difficulty in phonological processing (i.e. in phonological awareness, phonological processing speed or phonological memory). However, phonological difficulties do not fully explain the variability that is observed.
• Working memory, orthographic skills and processing speed problems can contribute to the impact of dyslexia.
• Dyslexia frequently co-occurs with one or more other developmental difficulty, including developmental language disorder, dyscalculia, ADHD, and developmental coordination disorder.

Further information about dyslexia is provided by the NHS here.

In Northern Ireland and across the UK, dyslexia can be formally diagnosed by either 1) a SASC-registered specialist SpLD teacher assessor holding a valid Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) or 2) a psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Both professionals' diagnoses are equally valid.

You can check whether a psychologist is registered with the HCPC by searching for their surname here and you can check whether a specialist SpLD teacher assessor is registered with SASC by searching for their surname here.

Dyslexia can be classified as a disability under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Order (Northern Ireland) 2005. Therefore, you may decide to inform your child's school that they have been diagnosed with dyslexia. Every diagnostic assessment report for a child features a 'recommendations for school' section and so it can be helpful to share a copy of your child's diagnostic assessment report with the school.

Schools do their best to ensure that a child with dyslexia is not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to a child that does not have dyslexia.

Ultimately, it is down to the SENCo of your child's school (if you decide to inform them of your child's dyslexia, of course) to decide what steps they need to take to support your child. The SENCo may decide that the school can meet your child’s dyslexic needs without any external support or in time they may wish to ask the Education Authority for support.

Many children and young people with dyslexia receive access arrangements in tests and examinations (e.g. extra time) such as the SEAG Entrance Assessment, GCSEs, A Levels and vocational qualifications such as Essential Skills.

Looking further down the line, a diagnostic assessment report confirming dyslexia provides access to funded support at any of Northern Ireland's regional colleges through the Department for the Economy's Additional Support Fund.

A diagnostic assessment report confirming dyslexia also enables a person to apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (up to £25,000 of support a year) whilst at university.

A diagnostic assessment report confirming dyslexia can even entitle a person to access arrangements (e.g. extra time) in their driving theory test or workplace support through the Access to Work (NI) scheme.

A diagnostic assessment report from Ulster Assessments that confirms a diagnosis of dyslexia is accepted by SEAG as supporting evidence for an application for 25% Extra Time in the SEAG Entrance Assessment. SEAG's Access Arrangements Policy states that 25% Extra Time "may be appropriate if a child has, for example: Dyslexia".

Under the SEAG's criteria for 25% Extra Time, a diagnostic assessment report confirming dyslexia from Ulster Assessments is classed as "an assessment confirming learning disability during Key Stage 1 or 2 carried out by a specialist teacher qualified to do so" (SEAG, 2025. p. 23).

Please note that when you're making your child's SEAG Entrance Assessment application you will also need a letter from their school's Principal stating your child's current stage on the school's SEN register and confirming that 25% extra time is your child's normal way of working in school. A copy of a current IEP/PLP from your child's school also needs submitting with the application to SEAG.

SEAG's Access Arrangements Policy can be perused here.

Yes - a copy of a diagnostic assessment report confirming a diagnosis of dyslexia from Ulster Assessments entitles a university student to apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance.

You can get an application form for the Disabled Students’ Allowance here. Simply complete the application form and send it off along with a copy of your diagnostic assessment report. You can apply before you go to university, or whilst you're at university.

Did you know that through the Disabled Students' Allowance, a student could receive up to £25,000 a year worth of support?

This support includes specialist equipment (e.g. a laptop with assistive technology software installed and various accessories, digital voice recorder, multifunction printer with annual ink cartridge and paper allowance), training on assistive technology, weekly one-to-one sessions with a Dyslexia Tutor and even the services of a Proof Reader to check assignments.

Please be cautious of individuals offering dyslexia assessments online who are not either a) a psychologist registered with the HCPC or b) a SASC-registered specialist SpLD teacher assessor holding an Assessment Practising Certificate. Only these professionals' diagnostic assessment reports can be used as evidence to apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance.

You can check whether a psychologist is registered with the HCPC by searching for their surname here and you can check whether a specialist SpLD teacher assessor is registered with SASC by searching for their surname here.

Yes - a copy of a diagnostic assessment report confirming a diagnosis of dyslexia from Ulster Assessments entitles a student enrolled in one of Northern Ireland's regional colleges to support from the Department for the Economy's Additional Support Fund.

Don't forget that if you are enrolled on an eligible higher education course at a college, a diagnostic assessment report confirming a diagnosis of dyslexia enables you to apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (up to £25,000 of support a year).

Yes - dyslexia can be classified as a disability under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and an employer should therefore consider making "reasonable adjustments" in light of an employee’s dyslexic difficulties. The extent of these adjustments will of course be dependent on a number of factors, including an employer's available resources/budget.

Within the diagnostic assessment report itself, there is actually a specific ‘recommendations’ section that you can detach and provide to your employer for perusal. You may also wish to seek workplace assistance through the Access to Work (NI) scheme.

Yes - a diagnostic assessment report confirming a diagnosis of dyslexia entitles a person to apply for double time (i.e. 100% extra time) for the multiple choice part of the Driving Theory Test. You can also ask for a 'voiceover'.

A 'voiceover' lets you hear the Driving Theory Test instructions and questions through headphones. The questions will be read out to you automatically. You can hear the possible answers by clicking on the text on the screen. You can hear the questions as many times as you like – just click on the text of the question again.

To arrange any of the above you must provide a copy of your diagnostic assessment report to the Driving Theory Test customer services section at the point of application. Further information on applying for extra time and/or a 'voiceover' in your Driving Theory Test can be found here.

Yes - we can carry out a diagnostic assessment for Dyspraxia/DCD for clients aged 16+.

Dyspraxia is a term used in the UK & Ireland to describe problems with motor coordination that are not caused by other medical conditions or illnesses. Internationally, however, the term Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is much more common.

Before seeking an assessment for Dyspraxia/DCD from Ulster Assessments, it is important that alternative explanations for your motor difficulties have been ruled out by your GP.

Student Finance NI lists dyspraxia as a qualifying disability for the Disabled Students' Allowance (SFNI, 2025, p.12).

Yes - we can carry out a diagnostic assessment for dysgraphia for clients aged 8+.

Sometimes a person presents with no literacy, cognitive or motor coordination difficulties other than a history of illegible handwriting. This presentation can be described as 'dysgraphia' - a handwriting difficulty (SASC, 2020, p.9).

Some people produce handwriting that is illegible, and if this occurs on its own without any difficulty with written expression, then using the term 'dysgraphia' can be helpful to describe this.

'Dysgraphia' is a term that can be used to describe those individuals who, despite exposure to adequate instruction, demonstrate writing ability that is not commensurate with their cognitive level and age. Dysgraphia is poorly understood and often goes unrecognised (Chung et al., 2020, p.1).

Student Finance NI lists dysgraphia as a qualifying disability for the Disabled Students' Allowance (SFNI, 2025, p.12).

The use of a scribe, word processor or speech recognition technology to compose work are common bypass strategies used by students with dysgraphia.

Yes - we can carry out a diagnostic assessment for dyscalculia for clients aged 8+.

Dyscalculia is where an individual has a specific and persistent difficulty in mathematics with numerical magnitude processing difficulties that are enduring and extreme.

Student Finance NI lists dyscalculia as a qualifying disability for the Disabled Students' Allowance (SFNI, 2025, p.12).

In Northern Ireland and across the UK, dyscalculia can be diagnosed by a specialist SpLD teacher assessor registered with the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) and in possession of a an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) plus relevant expertise/training. Dyscalculia can also be diagnosed by a psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and with relevant expertise/training. Either professionals' diagnoses are equally valid.

We can carry out a diagnostic assessment to identify characteristics of ADHD as a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) for adults aged 18+.

ADHD is unusual in that it has features relating to both mental health and specific learning difficulties. Given its impact on learning and education, ADHD can be conceptualised as a specific learning difficulty (SpLD).

This is not a medical diagnosis - it is primarily for the purposes of enabling an adult to qualify for support at university and/or within the workplace. It does not enable an adult to access prescription medication.

You can learn more about the type of ADHD assessment that we carry out here.