Effective Date: June 2026

Welcome to Anne Oakes – Dyslexia Specialist. These Terms and Conditions outline the rules and guidelines for using my services. By booking an assessment or tuition session, paying a deposit, or attending an appointment, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted these Terms and Conditions, together with the Privacy Policy and Safeguarding Statement.

1. About Me

I am Melanie Anne Oakes MDG, a qualified Dyslexia Specialist Teacher and Diagnostic Assessor. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in SEND and Inclusion: Dyslexia Specialist Assessment awarded by Middlesex University in partnership with Real Training.

I hold a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC), am a Member of the Dyslexia Guild (MDG), maintain professional indemnity and public liability insurance, hold an Enhanced DBS certificate, and am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

2. Services Provided

I offer:

• Diagnostic Dyslexia Assessments

• Dyslexia consultations

• One-to-one specialist literacy tuition

• Literacy support services for children, young people, and adults

3. Diagnostic Assessments

Assessment Fees

• The fee for a full Diagnostic Dyslexia Assessment is £525.

• A non-refundable deposit of £262.50 (50%) is required to secure an assessment appointment.

• The remaining balance of £262.50 must be paid before the completed report is released.

Assessment Booking

An assessment date will only be confirmed once:

• The deposit has been received.

• All required questionnaires and background information have been completed and returned.

• Any requested supporting documentation has been provided.

For school-aged children, parents/carers may be asked to provide permission for information to be obtained from the child's school.

Assessment Duration

• Assessments are usually conducted at my home address and typically last up to three hours.

• Parents/carers of clients under 18 years of age must remain contactable throughout the assessment period.

Vision and Hearing

Clients should ensure that any concerns regarding vision or hearing have been investigated prior to assessment. School-aged children should ideally have had a sight test within the previous two years.

Failure to provide relevant information may delay the assessment process or affect interpretation of assessment results.

Assessment Reports

• Written reports are normally completed within three weeks of the assessment date.

• Reports are provided electronically in PDF format.

• Reports are confidential and belong to the client.

• Clients may choose whether to share reports with schools, colleges, universities, employers, or other professionals.

4. Diagnostic Assessment Disclaimer

A Diagnostic Dyslexia Assessment is conducted in accordance with current professional standards and represents my professional opinion based on the information available at the time of assessment.

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and reliability:

• No assessment can guarantee a particular diagnosis, outcome, educational provision, examination arrangement, funding decision, workplace adjustment, or other support.

• Recommendations within the report are intended to inform parents, carers, educational settings, employers, and other professionals.

• Decisions regarding examination access arrangements, EHCPs, DSA applications, workplace support, or other interventions remain the responsibility of the relevant organisation or decision-making body.

• The assessment report should not be regarded as a substitute for medical, psychological, psychiatric, speech and language, occupational therapy, or other specialist professional advice where such assessments may be required.

• The accuracy of the assessment may be affected if relevant information is incomplete, inaccurate, or unavailable.

Reports are prepared for the sole use of the client and those professionals with whom the client chooses to share them. No responsibility is accepted for the use, interpretation, or reliance upon the report by third parties without prior knowledge or consent.

5. Tuition Services

Lesson Fees

• One-to-one specialist tuition sessions cost £35 per 45-minute session.

• Payment is due on the day of the lesson unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in writing.

Tuition Times

Lessons are available during school term time only and are subject to availability.

Current lesson slots are:

Monday to Friday: 3:30pm–4:15pm, 4:30pm–5:15pm, 5:30pm–6:15pm *

*Availability is subject to change.

Cancellations

• A minimum of 24 hours' notice is required for cancellation of a tuition session.

• Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice may be charged in full unless exceptional circumstances apply.

• If I need to cancel a session, an alternative appointment will be offered where possible.

Professional Practice

All tuition is delivered on a one-to-one basis and is planned according to the individual's needs. Teaching follows a structured, cumulative, multisensory approach informed by assessment findings and ongoing review.

I undertake regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to maintain and enhance my professional knowledge and skills.

6. Client Responsibilities

Clients are expected to:

• Provide accurate and complete information relevant to the services being provided.

• Notify me of any information that may affect the assessment or tuition process.

• Ensure fees are paid in accordance with the agreed payment terms.

• Treat all parties respectfully and appropriately throughout the professional relationship.

For clients under 18 years of age, parents/carers remain responsible for the child throughout the appointment and must remain contactable at all times.

7. Confidentiality and Data Protection

• Information shared during assessments and tuition sessions will be treated confidentially and managed in accordance with UK GDPR and Data Protection legislation.

• Information will only be shared with third parties at the client's request, with consent, or where required by law.

• Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where there are safeguarding concerns or legal obligations to disclose information.

• Personal information is stored securely and retained in accordance with legal and professional requirements.

8. Safeguarding

The welfare and safety of children, young people, and vulnerable adults is of paramount importance.

I am committed to providing a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for all clients attending assessments and tuition sessions.

Where safeguarding concerns arise, I have a professional duty to take appropriate action in accordance with current UK safeguarding legislation and guidance.

9. Respectful Behaviour

All clients, parents, carers, and accompanying adults are expected to behave respectfully at all times.

I reserve the right to terminate an assessment, tuition session, or professional relationship immediately where behaviour is threatening, abusive, aggressive, discriminatory, intimidating, or otherwise inappropriate.

Where a session is terminated for these reasons, any fees already paid may be retained to cover time and costs incurred.

10. Intellectual Property

All assessment reports, teaching resources, materials, and documentation remain the intellectual property of Anne Oakes – Dyslexia Specialist.

Clients may use these materials for personal purposes but may not reproduce, distribute, share, or sell them without prior written permission.

11. Limitation of Liability

Whilst every effort is made to ensure assessments and recommendations are accurate and professionally informed, no guarantees are made regarding educational progress, examination performance, access arrangements, school support, workplace adjustments, or other third-party decisions.

I shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, or incidental loss arising from the use of services or recommendations provided.

12. Termination of Services

Either party may terminate ongoing tuition arrangements by providing reasonable notice.

Services may be terminated immediately where there is a breach of these Terms and Conditions or inappropriate behaviour as outlined above.

13. Amendments

These Terms and Conditions may be updated from time to time. The latest version will always be available on my website.

14. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be resolved under these laws.

15. Contact Information

Anne Oakes – Dyslexia Specialist

Email: hello@anneoakes.com

Phone: 07718 082538