Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether those involved in teaching and diagnosing pupils with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties in the school system have been consulted about the changes to people who can conduct assessments for eligibility for the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

The department is yet to conclude discussions currently being held with relevant experts, including the British Dyslexia Association, about the qualifications that should be held by those undertaking specific learning difficulty diagnostic assessments that can be used to determine eligibility for Disabled Students’ Allowances. The experts with whom the department is discussing this issue have knowledge and understanding of diagnostic assessment undertaken for school pupils. The department expects to conclude these discussions by the middle of March 2019.