Finding a tutor or assessor
There are several ways in which you can find a tutor or an assessor.
The PATOSS and BDA websites both have useful information for parents when they are considering tuition or assessment.
Somerset Dyslexia Helpline
There are qualified tutors in Somerset who are not listed via the links below. If you would like to know about other tutors in your area, then contact one of the SDA help lines for information – or for any advice and support.
PATOSS (The Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties)
Via their web-site – you can access a list of tutors and assessors with an up-to-date qualification. It has useful information for anyone who is considering tuition or assessment for themselves or others.
Click here to access Patoss tutor listing. Search by postcode and tick the APC box to find a fully qualified assessor.
British Dyslexia Association
Via their website – you can access the BDA list of qualified tutors and assessors. It also offers useful information for anyone who is considering tuition or assessment for themselves or others.
To ask for names you can email tutorlist@bdadyslexia.org.uk with a postcode of the area you are looking in and the age of your child.
The Val Fund
If you find you need an assessment but have little hope of being able to afford it then don’t worry – please ring the SDA helpline. In 2014 the SDA was very fortunate to be offered a generous donation by the family of one of our founder members, Val Wight-Boycott, to help those, of any age, who need an assessment but cannot afford one. If you would like to apply for help with funding, contact Janet on somersetdyslexiaassociation@gmail.com.
Back in the 1950’s/60’s Val was one of a small group of pioneers who recognised that those struggling to learn to read were not lazy or ‘stupid’. She found out as much as she could about this strange thing ‘dyslexia’, and through her own tutoring, created dyslexia-friendly teaching tools and methods which worked. Eventually, in the 1980’s, she decided to try to set up the Somerset Dyslexia Association. She involved our president, Peter Speke, parent of a son with dyslexia, and others. At this time Education Authorities would not accept there could be such a thing. But she never gave up on anyone suffering because of it.