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Dyslexia tutor guide for parents

How to decide whether tutoring is the right next step, what qualifications and safeguarding checks to ask about, and how to compare school, specialist, local and online support routes.

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Editorial

  • Lead authorRobin GibbonsFounder & CEO·Latimer Tuition
  • Reviewed byHeather LatimerTutor Matching & Customer Service·Latimer Tuition
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Last reviewed

Dyslexia tutor qualifications: what parents should ask

Qualification labels can be useful, but they are not a substitute for checking fit, safeguarding, experience, current practice and whether the person tutors, assesses, or both.

Term or signalWhat it can indicateWhat to ask before booking

Level 5 specialist teaching qualification

Specialist training relevant to teaching learners with dyslexia or SpLD, depending on course and context.

Ask what the qualification covers, the age range taught, and how sessions will be adapted for your child.

Level 7, AMBDA or assessment-linked credentials

Higher-level specialist teaching or assessment-related competence, depending on the exact qualification and current status.

Ask whether the person is offering tutoring, diagnostic assessment, or both, and whether any assessor status is current.

ATS / APS

British Dyslexia Association accreditation signals for specialist teaching or support roles.

Ask whether accreditation is current and how it applies to your child’s age, stage and needs.

APC

A current Assessment Practising Certificate can be relevant to diagnostic assessment work.

Do not assume a tutor can diagnose; ask explicitly whether assessment is being offered and what report it produces.

Reviews or “dyslexia” profile labels

Useful context, but not proof of specialist training.

Ask for evidence of training, experience, safeguarding and how progress will be reviewed.

Which dyslexia support route fits your situation?

Use these routes as good places to start, not as a ranked list. The right choice depends on your child’s needs, school context, assessment status and whether you want local, online, specialist or managed support.

How we chose these
  • UK parent relevance
  • Source-backed route or established charity or professional source
  • Clear best-for situation
  • Check-first caveat included
  • No universal ranking or provider endorsement

Reviewed 2026-04-30

school route

Speak to school or SENCO first

School / SENCO route

Best for: understanding what support is already in place before paying privately

Keeps tutoring aligned with school observations, existing targets and any classroom support.

Check first

Ask what has already been noticed, what support is in place, and what information can be shared with a tutor.

professional directory / charity guidance

British Dyslexia Association tutor-finding advice and Tutor List

British Dyslexia Association

Best for: families who want to compare qualified specialist tutor routes

Combines tutor-finding guidance with a specialist tutor list.

Check first

Verify age and stage fit, safeguarding, insurance, current availability and whether the tutor offers the support your child needs.

BDA finding a tutor

professional index

Patoss Tutor / Assessor Index

Patoss

Best for: checking specialist practitioner routes and first-contact questions

Gives a specialist search route and practical questions for parents to ask.

Check first

Confirm whether the practitioner tutors, assesses, or both, and ask about qualifications, safeguarding, insurance, feedback and cancellation policy.

Patoss pointers for parents

managed specialist service

British Dyslexia Association Tuition Service

British Dyslexia Association

Best for: parents who prefer a service-led route rather than contacting independent tutors one by one

Gives a managed specialist-tuition option from a dyslexia-sector charity.

Check first

Confirm current fees, booking terms, age coverage, availability and suitability for your child.

BDA tuition service

Scotland-specific route

Dyslexia Scotland tutor route

Dyslexia Scotland

Best for: families who need Scotland-relevant terminology and tutor routes

Avoids importing England-only SEND wording into a Scottish context.

Check first

Confirm PVG and Disclosure Scotland position, school-context fit and whether online or local support is available.

Dyslexia Scotland tutors

charity-led specialist tuition

Helen Arkell specialist tuition

Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity

Best for: families who prefer a charity-led specialist model

Provides a specialist-tuition route with dyslexia charity context.

Check first

Confirm location, online availability, bursary eligibility, current fees and whether the teaching approach suits your child.

Helen Arkell tuition

Support ladder

A safe route from concern to support

  • At home

    Notice what is hard at home, such as reading, spelling, writing, homework avoidance, confidence, fatigue or slow progress despite effort.

  • At school

    Speak to the class teacher, form tutor or SENCO and ask what has already been observed and what support is in place.

  • SENCO or specialist

    If difficulties persist, ask whether specialist teaching advice, a diagnostic assessment, or another school-support route is appropriate.

  • Latimer tutor role

    A dyslexia-aware tutor can support practice, confidence, strategies and subject work, especially where targets are clear and feedback is shared.

  • When to escalate

    Escalate beyond tutoring if your child needs diagnostic clarity, exam access-arrangements evidence, significant wellbeing support, or joined-up school planning.

Parent script

Questions to ask before you book a dyslexia tutor

Situation

You are contacting a tutor, directory listing, agency or charity service and want to check suitability without relying only on a profile or reviews.

Try saying

  • What experience do you have supporting children with dyslexia or similar literacy difficulties?
  • What qualifications or specialist training do you hold, and are any accreditations current?
  • Do you tutor, assess, or both?
  • What safeguarding checks apply to your work, such as DBS, PVG or Northern Ireland disclosure checks where relevant?
  • Do you have safeguarding procedures, insurance and a clear cancellation policy?
  • How will you adapt sessions for my child’s reading, writing, confidence and school targets?
  • How will we review progress after the first few sessions?
  • Are you happy to liaise with school recommendations or existing targets where appropriate?

Why it helps

These questions help parents compare tutors fairly and avoid assuming that profile labels, reviews or price prove suitability.

Local, online or private dyslexia tutoring?

Searching for a dyslexia tutor near you can be useful, but location is only one part of fit. Compare the route, not just the postcode.

RouteOften useful whenCheck first

Local in-person tutor

Your child works better face to face or needs in-person rapport.

Travel, availability, safeguarding, home-visit boundaries and specialist experience.

Online dyslexia tutoring

You need more choice, flexible timings or access to a specialist outside your area.

Whether your child can engage online, what tools are used, and how attention and fatigue are managed.

Independent or private tutor

You want direct contact and a tailored arrangement.

Qualifications, insurance, safeguarding, data handling, cancellation terms and progress review.

Directory or charity route

You want a dyslexia-sector starting point.

Whether the listing confirms current status, age range, availability and suitability.

Managed service or agency

You want help matching and administering support.

How tutors are vetted, what happens if the first match is not right, and whether claims are evidenced.

A note on UK wording

This guide is UK-wide for choosing tutoring support, but school-support terminology and formal processes differ across the UK. When the question is about school duties, formal assessment, PVG, DBS or Northern Ireland disclosure checks, or exam arrangements, check the relevant local or official source.

  • England commonly uses SEND and SEN support and EHCP language.
  • Scotland uses additional support for learning and PVG terminology.
  • Northern Ireland uses its own SEN guidance and Northern Ireland disclosure arrangements.
  • Do not rely on Wales-specific terminology here unless a current Welsh Government source is added, verified and listed in references.
GOV.UK SEND overviewScottish additional support for learning guidanceNorthern Ireland SEN guidance for parents

How to review whether tutoring is helping

Early progress may not always show first in marks. Parents can look for signs such as better engagement, clearer strategies, more confidence, less avoidance, and improved ability to explain what helps. Keep expectations cautious and do not assume the same trajectory for every dyslexic learner.

  • Ask what each session is targeting.
  • Agree how progress will be reviewed.
  • Share relevant school targets or assessment recommendations where appropriate.
  • Reconsider fit if your child is becoming more anxious, confused or avoidant.
Education Endowment Foundation one-to-one tuition evidence

Related guidance

You might also find these useful

Pages from elsewhere in the Ed Centre that share the most ground with this one — picked by keyword overlap rather than position in the navigation tree.

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Parent Guide to Tutoring in the UK

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How to Find a Good Tutor for Your Child

Compare tutor-finding routes, ask useful questions, check safety and fit for your child, and decide what to do next — without assuming one credential or directory proves quality.

Related guidance

Does my child need a tutor?

Help parents decide whether tutoring is the right next step, what to try first, and how to choose safely if tutoring is appropriate.

Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

How much does a dyslexia tutor cost?

Costs vary by provider, format, location, qualification level and whether the route is independent, charity-led or managed. Ask what is included, whether there are assessment or admin fees, how cancellations work, and how progress will be reviewed.

Is online dyslexia tutoring suitable?

It can be suitable for some children, especially where online access gives more choice or flexibility. Check whether your child can focus online, what tools the tutor uses, and how sessions are adapted for attention, fatigue and confidence.

Does a dyslexia tutor need to be a qualified teacher?

Not every useful tutor has the same background, but for dyslexia-specific support it is sensible to ask about specialist training, relevant qualifications, experience with your child’s age group, safeguarding, and how progress will be reviewed.

Can a dyslexia tutor diagnose dyslexia?

No. A tutor can support learning, but formal diagnosis requires a diagnostic assessment by an appropriately qualified or certified assessor.

Should I speak to school before booking a private tutor?

Usually, yes. School can explain what has already been observed, what support is in place, and whether targets or recommendations can be shared so tutoring does not work in isolation.

Can a dyslexia tutor help with English or maths?

A dyslexia-aware tutor may support literacy, English, study skills or subject work, depending on their experience and your child’s needs. Ask how they adapt teaching and whether they have experience with the specific subject or stage.

Sources and references

Sources and references

Official guidance

Peer-reviewed research

Other sources