Terms & Conditions

Thank you for choosing Adult Dyslexia Services by Sarah Hickinbotham.

Below are the terms and conditions that outline how we work together to ensure the best tutoring, assessment and training experience.

1. Definitions

“Client” refers to the person or persons who request, arrange, and pay for the service. This is assumed to be the person who makes initial contact with Adult Dyslexia Services by Sarah Hickinbotham (ADS).

“Assessee” refers to the person receiving tutoring or assessment from ADS. This may also be the Client in the case of adult assessments and tutoring.

“Consultancy” is the provision of education advice or consultation provided by ADS, charged at an hourly rate.

“School holidays” is any period of non-term time, inclusive of all school dates within the UK.

“Working day” refers a typical working day of 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory Bank Holidays.

“Education establishment” refers to a school, college, university, or other place of learning the client is currently attending or has attended historically.

“Booking date” refers to the date that has been booked for the piece of work.

"ADS" refers to Adult Dyslexia Services by Sarah Hickinbotham.

"Work" refers to any paid work that Adult Dyslexia Services by Sarah Hickinbotham is employed to undertake. This includes, but is not limited to, assessment, tutoring, training, and consultancy.

2. Payment

A deposit of 20% is required to secure assessment bookings, tutoring bookings and consultancy services, unless otherwise specified.
The assessment/tutoring/training date will be held for 7 days. If the agreed deposit is not received within this time, the date will be released. This is due to high demand and to avoid delaying the services required by other clients.
The remaining balance must be paid a minimum of 48 hours prior to assessment or within 7 days from receipt of the invoice if for training services, unless otherwise specified.
Reports will not be released until full payment has been received.

3. Expenses

All expenses will be covered in the agreed fee, unless otherwise specified.
Mileage is charged at £0.60p per mile, unless otherwise stated.

4. Cancellation and Refunds

It is understood that plans can change. Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule your booking.

Cancellations should be advised via email (hello@adultdyslexiaservices.co.uk) and confirmed by telephone (07543 759593).

More than 10 working days: Cancellations (assessment, tutoring, training) will result in a refund, less the deposit (£100 for assessments, 20% for all other work).
Within 10 working days: Cancellations will result in the forfeiture of 50% of the total cost of work.

Within 5 working days: Cancellations will incur the full fee for the total cost of work.
The full fee is payable if no cancellation is made and the client/assessee fails to attend the booking or if the client/assessee's late arrival prevents the assessment from being completed.
A discretionary £50 fee will apply if transferring the booking to a different date less than 10 working days prior to the booking.
Clients will be liable for any non-refundable costs associated with the booking that cannot be cancelled regardless of when notice is given.
Any test papers sent by ADS to the client/assessee for online assessments must be returned as they are confidential and copyrighted materials.
Work will be rescheduled a maximum of two times and will be considered a cancellation at the third request for a change of date.

Cancellation by Adult Dyslexia Services by Sarah Hickinbotham

ADS reserves the right to cancel bookings at any time due to viability, adverse weather, illness, unforeseen reasons, or if there is any reputational risk. ADS will inform you at the earliest possible opportunity and work to rearrange the booking (if appropriate) at a mutually convenient time.

5. Your Responsibilities

The client/assessee must ensure they fulfil the following responsibilities:

Diagnostic assessment and tutoring

An initial online consultation with ADS, the client and the assessee must be undertaken before any assessment or tutoring takes place.
Background information must be gathered from the client/assessee and, with consent, other relevant sources such as schools/further education/higher education/workplaces before the assessment via questionnaires.
Copies of historic reports relevant to the assessment, such as those undertaken by education and medical specialists, must be provided.
Background information and consent must be provided to ADS at least 7 days in advance of assessment, or the assessment will be cancelled/rescheduled.
Understand that follow-up emails and calls may be made to the sources of background information, if required.
Understand that assessments and/or tutoring cannot go ahead until sufficient background information is provided.

For all diagnostic assessments:

Assessees must have had an eye test with a suitably qualified professional within the last two years prior to assessment. The outcome of this must be shared with ADS prior to assessment.
Any traits of visual difficulties and discomforts, such as text moving and blurring, must be discussed with a suitably qualified optometrist before the assessment.
If visual difficulties are identified during the course of assessment, the assessment may be paused to allow the client/assessee to have these explored with a suitably qualified professional.
If the assessee has a prescription for glasses or contact lenses, these must be worn during the assessment.
If the assessee uses coloured overlays, these must be brought along to the assessment.
If the assessee experiences hearing difficulties, these must be investigated with a suitably qualified professional and discussed with ADS prior to assessment.
If hearing difficulties are identified during the course of assessment, the assessment may be paused to allow the client/assessee to have these explored with a suitably qualified professional.
If the assessee requires aids for hearing, they must wear these during the assessment.
The assessee must have been speaking English regularly and lived in an English-speaking country for at least 7 years prior to the assessment date. They must also be able to read and write in English. This is because many of the tests are centred in English speaking culture.
Assessees must discuss any additional needs or accommodations with ADS prior to assessment (please see Accessibility Statement).
All assessment content, papers and processes must remain confidential and must not be shared by you with anyone else.

Follow-up tests may be needed, with no additional charge and clients/assessees must accommodate these.

A post-assessment session will be arranged with the client/assessee at no extra charge.

Assessees under 18 will not be left unattended during assessments and a responsible guardian must remain nearby, in accordance with the ADS Safeguarding Policy.
Due to the need for concentration and confidentiality, assessees under 18 are permitted to attend with one chosen person only. Only the assessee and the assessor can be present in the assessment room, unless otherwise agreed with the assessor.
Pets must also be secured in a safe space outside the assessment room, unless agreed in advance with ADS for exceptional reasons.
Payment ensures an assessment for dyslexia or an evaluation of needs within the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) guidelines, but it does not guarantee a diagnosis of dyslexia.
If the assessee becomes distressed during the assessment process, the session may be paused or postponed.
Full cooperation prior to, during, and after the assessment is essential. Failure to do so may result in termination of the assessment and the client/assessee will be charged the full fee. Failure to meet any of these responsibilities will lead to the assessment being delayed or cancelled.

Additional conditions for online diagnostic assessments:

You must be alone and in a private place away from interruptions, noises and distractions (specific terms and conditions apply for under 18s and vulnerable adults – please refer to our Safeguarding Policy).
You will need a sufficient internet connection and a laptop, desktop computer or large tablet (9.7” diagonally and over) with a suitable microphone, camera and audio.
Small tablets and mobile phones are not suitable for the majority of the assessment, however, a second camera device will be required to observe writing tasks.
You will need adequate charge for several hours of testing.

The assessment will be completed using Zoom Workplace; it is your responsibility to ensure that you can access this platform on all devices before the assessment takes place.
Test papers will be posted to the client in good time prior to the day of testing.
The envelope containing test papers MUST remain sealed until the assessor gives verbal permission to open it once the assessment begins.
You must not record the remote session, nor take any screenshots or photos of testing materials or the assessor. If this behaviour is suspected, the assessor will immediately end the assessment and it will be void. The client/assessee will still be required to pay the full cost of the assessment.
All test papers must be returned to the assessor. This includes if the assessment does not go ahead for any reason.

6. Exam Access Arrangements Assessments

ADS will maintain knowledge of JCQ regulations and current assessment tools.
They will liaise with the SENDCo and assess learners in accordance with their history and needs.
Schools are responsible for completing Form 8, Part 1 before the assessment, sharing this in advance with ADS via secure means, and arranging the day’s timetable.
ADS will maintain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate on the update service. The certificate number is available upon request.

7. Reports

Reports will be completed within 15 working days of the final day of assessment and sent securely via email using a password-protected link once a complimentary phone call or online review appointment has been conducted.
If the assessee is over 16 years of age and the client is an adult, permission will be required from the assessee for reports to be sent to or discussed with parents, guardians and/or carers.
ADS will make every effort to send the report within the stated time limit but does not accept liability for failure to deliver within the stated time where circumstances are beyond reasonable control.
Amendments to background information only must be requested within 14 calendar days of receiving the report. After this time, the report is considered final.
Whilst every effort is made to provide a clear diagnosis, it may not always be possible to confirm or rule out dyslexia unless background, observational and assessment evidence aligns with current definitions of dyslexia approved by the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee. Recommendations for addressing difficulties observed, provided these are within the scope of the assessor's professional qualifications, and enhancing strengths will be included in the report regardless of whether or not a diagnosis of dyslexia is made.
Reports will not be released until payment has been received in full.
It is the client's responsibility to keep the report safe.

8. Education and Workplace Support Packages

The minimum duration of the package is three terms for educational establishments or six months for businesses.
Visits must be spread over these terms and cannot be carried over unless agreed with ADS. Follow-up work must be part of contracted visits or chargeable extras. Invoices are sent at the start of the contract, and payments must be made within 7 days of the invoice being sent.
A 20% deposit is required to secure bookings. On booking the package, a 14-day cooling-off period applies and the deposit will be returned if the package is cancelled. After that, no refund is permitted.
Unspent visits within the package will not be refunded or carried over unless agreed in advance with ADS.

9. Intellectual Property

All training materials, reports, and resources provided by ADS remain the intellectual property of Sarah Hickinbotham, unless otherwise agreed. Education establishments receive a non-exclusive license to use these materials for internal purposes only.

10. Code of Ethics

ADS is an Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA), the Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (PATOSS), and the Dyslexia Guild. It abides by their codes of ethics. For more information, please refer to each organisation's Code of Ethics.

11. Privacy Policy

ADS respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. All personal data will be handled in line with our Privacy Notice, which is available on this website.

12. Limitation of Liability

Whilst every effort is made to provide high-quality, evidence-based diagnostic assessment and research-informed tutoring and training, no guarantees can be made regarding outcomes, diagnoses, or acceptance of reports by external bodies (e.g. local authorities, organisations, private enterprises, universities, Student Finance England, etc.). It is the client's responsibility to confirm in advance whether the report format will meet specific institutional requirements.

13. Safeguarding

Sarah Hickinbotham holds an Enhanced DBS certificate on the update service and is committed to safeguarding all children, young people, and adults. Safeguarding concerns raised before, during, or after the assessment will be followed up in line with statutory guidance and may be reported to the appropriate authorities, if necessary to ensure the safety of others. For more information, please read the Safeguarding Policy available on this website.

14. Complaints

For concerns relating to any service provided by ADS, please contact us for an informal discussion. ADS endeavours to adhere to the highest professional standards and welcomes feedback. Alternatively, visit the websites of the professional organisations listed above under 10. Code of Ethics for information about their complaints procedures.

15. General

ADS reserves the right to alter these terms and conditions at any time. These Terms and Conditions prevail unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Last reviewed: 30/03/26