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Understanding Your Child’s Difficulties with Maths
You may have noticed that your child finds number facts hard to remember, relies heavily on counting in ones, or struggles with place value, time or money. They may work hard and receive support, yet maths still feels unusually difficult.
There can be several reasons for this. An assessment can help build a clearer picture of their strengths and needs.
Who Might Benefit from an Assessment?
An assessment may be worth considering if your child continues to find maths much harder than expected, even with support, or if their difficulties affect their confidence or everyday life. You do not need to know whether they have dyscalculia before getting in touch.
We can discuss what you have noticed and whether a full assessment would be helpful.
What Happens in a Dyscalculia Assessment?
The assessment covers more than maths questions. Claire explores how your child understands numbers and quantities, calculates and solves problems. She also assesses language, reasoning and memory, including how well your child can hold information in mind while using it. Visual and spatial skills, such as recognising and remembering patterns, are explored too. This helps explain why maths is difficult and what support may help. The exact tasks reflect your child’s age, background and needs. No single test score decides the outcome.
1) An Initial Conversation
We discuss your concerns and explain what the assessment involves.
Before the appointment, we ask for background information from you and, where possible, the school or college.
2) A Supportive Assessment
Claire works with your child or young person face to face in a quiet setting. Allow around four to five hours for the assessment, including breaks. It can be spread across sessions where appropriate.
The activities help Claire understand how the learner approaches maths, as well as the answers they give.
3) A Clear Written Report
You receive a detailed report that explains your child’s strengths and difficulties in clear language, including whether the findings support a diagnosis of dyscalculia or specific learning difficulties in mathematics.
The report gives recommendations for home and school or college. If dyscalculia is not identified, it will still explain the maths difficulties found and what support may help.
Who Carries out the Assessment?
Dyscalculia assessments are carried out by Claire Beckett, a specialist dyscalculia assessor and teacher. Claire holds a Level 7 qualification in dyscalculia assessment, AMBDA Dyscalculia and a current Assessment Practising Certificate.
She has extensive experience across mainstream and specialist education and aims to make both the assessment and the report clear and useful to families and schools.
Where and How Much?
Assessments can take place at our office in Frome St Quintin, Dorset, or at the learner’s home or school by arrangement. We work with families across Dorset and surrounding areas.
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The fee for a full diagnostic dyscalculia assessment is £650. Please get in touch to discuss availability, venue and any travel arrangements before booking.
FAQs
Can I arrange an assessment privately?
Yes. Parents and carers can contact us directly. A school referral is not required, although information from school can help us understand the learner’s history and current support.
Will the assessment definitely lead to a diagnosis?
No. Difficulties with maths can have different causes. The report will explain the findings and recommend support whether or not your child meets the criteria for dyscalculia or specific learning difficulties in mathematics.
How long will the assessment take?
Allow around four to five hours for the face-to-face assessment, including breaks. We can discuss how to spread this across sessions to suit your child or young person.
What if my child also has other learning needs?
Please tell us about any existing diagnoses, support or adjustments when you enquire. This helps Claire consider what will make the assessment accessible and how best to interpret the findings.
What will I receive afterwards?
You will receive a written diagnostic report explaining strengths, difficulties and practical recommendations for home and school or college.
Ready to talk it through?
If you are unsure whether a dyscalculia assessment is appropriate, get in touch. We can discuss the difficulties you have noticed and explain the process before you decide.