Laura Gowers' Qualifications and Accreditations: What They Mean for Your Assessment

When you're searching for a dyslexia assessment, the alphabet soup of acronyms on an assessor's profile can feel more confusing than reassuring. AMBDA, APC, SASC, PATOSS - what do they actually mean, and why should they matter to you?

This page cuts through the jargon. It explains exactly what each of Laura Gowers' qualifications and professional memberships means in plain English, why the regulatory bodies behind them exist, and what their presence guarantees about the quality of any assessment carried out at This Is Dyslexia.

The short version: Laura holds the two most important credentials a UK dyslexia assessor can carry - AMBDA from the British Dyslexia Association and an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) from the Dyslexia Guild - alongside a full suite of postgraduate qualifications and professional memberships built across 25 years of specialist practice.

Here is what each of those credentials means for you.

The Two Credentials That Matter Most

In the UK, there is no single government register of dyslexia assessors - which means the quality of an assessment can vary enormously depending on who conducts it. Two credentials have emerged as the recognised benchmark for professional competence: AMBDA and the APC. Laura holds both.

AMBDA: Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association

AMBDA is awarded by the British Dyslexia Association and signals that an assessor has completed a postgraduate (Level 7) qualification in SpLD assessment and specialist teaching. It is not a qualification you can simply buy or apply for - it requires the successful completion of a rigorous, BDA-accredited course, submission of multiple supervised diagnostic assessment reports, and ongoing commitment to continuing professional development (CPD).

What the qualifications means in practice:

• The assessor is qualified to formally diagnose dyslexia in children and adults

• Their work is assessed at postgraduate level (FHEQ Level 7), the same academic level as a master's degree

• The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) recognises APC holders as approved to make recommendations for exam access arrangements

• APC must be renewed every three years, requiring evidence of ongoing CPD

Laura holds AMBDA with the British Dyslexia Association, which means every assessment at This Is Dyslexia is conducted to a nationally recognised postgraduate standard.

APC: Assessment Practising Certificate (Dyslexia Guild, Ref: 0925/238)

The APC is, in the words of the Dyslexia Guild, effectively a licence to practise. It is issued on behalf of the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) and confirms three things: that the holder has the appropriate postgraduate qualifications, that their current practice has been externally verified as meeting defined competence standards, and that they are committed to ongoing CPD.

Why the APC matters for you: Since March 2019, the Department for Education requires that any dyslexia assessment report used as evidence for a Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) application must be written by a specialist teacher assessor holding a current APC. Without it, a report - however well-written - cannot be used for DSA purposes.

Laura's APC is issued through the Dyslexia Guild (reference 0925/238) and is renewed every three years. This means assessments conducted at This Is Dyslexia carry full DSA validity and are accepted by universities, colleges, and employers across the UK.

Professional Memberships and Regulatory Oversight

Holding AMBDA and an APC requires active membership of recognised professional bodies. Laura is a member of all three organisations authorised to issue APCs in the UK, providing multiple layers of professional oversight.

Membership	Body	What it means
Professional Member	Dyslexia Guild	APC-issuing body; requires ongoing CPD and adherence to a Code of Practice
AMBDA Member	British Dyslexia Association	Postgraduate-level dyslexia assessment and teaching accreditation
Professional Member	PATOSS	Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties
Registered Assessor	SASC	SpLD Assessment Standards Committee; the national body that sets APC standards

SASC: The Standards Body Behind the APC

SASC (SpLD Assessment Standards Committee) is the national organisation that sets the standards for dyslexia and SpLD assessment in the UK. It does not issue APCs itself - that is done by the BDA, Dyslexia Guild, and PATOSS on its behalf - but it sets the criteria that every APC holder must meet and maintains a public register of approved assessors.

Being SASC-registered means Laura's practice is subject to externally verified quality standards, not just self-reported competence.

PATOSS: Professional Association for Teachers of Students with SpLDs

PATOSS membership reflects Laura's commitment to the wider SpLD professional community. PATOSS is one of only three bodies authorised to issue APCs in the UK, and its members are required to adhere to a professional code of conduct and maintain their CPD. Laura holds professional membership, which places her within a regulated peer community with defined ethical standards.

Academic Qualifications: The Foundation Beneath the Accreditations

Accreditations like AMBDA and the APC sit on top of a substantial academic foundation. Laura's qualifications span initial teacher training, postgraduate specialist study, educational leadership, and psychometric assessment.

Teaching and Educational Leadership

• BA (Hons) in Primary and Secondary Education Studies with QTS - Qualified Teacher Status, the baseline teaching qualification recognised across England and Wales

• National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL) - A nationally recognised qualification for senior leaders in education, reflecting Laura's background in educational leadership before founding This Is Dyslexia

• National Award for SEN Co-ordination (NASENCo) - The qualification required to become a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) in a UK school, covering identification, assessment, and support for pupils with additional needs

Specialist Dyslexia and Inclusion Qualifications

• Post Graduate Certificate in Assessing and Teaching Learners with Dyslexia - The postgraduate-level specialist qualification that underpins AMBDA accreditation

• Post Graduate Certificate in Inclusion and Institutional Development - A qualification focused on creating inclusive learning environments and institutional approaches to neurodiversity

• Certificate in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A) - A specialist qualification covering the administration and interpretation of psychometric tests, and the preparation of evidence for exam access arrangements. This is directly relevant to any assessment report that may be used to support a student's access arrangement application

Coaching and Wellbeing

• Professional Coaching Certification - Formal coaching training that underpins the post-assessment coaching support available at This Is Dyslexia

• Professional Positive Psychology Certification - A qualification in evidence-based positive psychology approaches, informing the strengths-based framework used in coaching and support work

• Working towards ICF accredited somatic trauma-informed coaching and leadership certification - Ongoing professional development in trauma-informed coaching, recognising the intersection of neurodiversity and emotional wellbeing

What this means for clients: The coaching and wellbeing qualifications are not decorative. They explain why This Is Dyslexia offers more than a diagnostic report - the service is designed to support the whole person, not just produce a document.

Safeguarding and Professional Insurance

Two further credentials are worth noting, particularly for parents booking assessments for children.

• Enhanced DBS Certificate - An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is the most thorough level of criminal record check available in the UK. It is required for anyone working in regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults. Laura holds an Enhanced DBS, which means she has been formally cleared to work with children and young people.

• Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance - Professional indemnity insurance protects clients if something goes wrong with a professional service. Public liability insurance covers any incidents during in-person sessions. Both are in place at This Is Dyslexia.

These are the basics that any responsible practitioner should hold - and it is worth checking for them when comparing providers.

What to Ask Any Dyslexia Assessor Before You Book

Understanding credentials is useful beyond choosing This Is Dyslexia - it helps you make an informed decision whenever you are comparing providers. These are the questions worth asking.

The essential checklist

1. Do you hold AMBDA or an equivalent Level 7 postgraduate qualification in SpLD assessment? This is the minimum standard for a formal diagnostic assessment.

2. Do you hold a current APC? If there is any chance the report will be needed for DSA, university support, or future education, an APC is not optional.

3. Are you registered with SASC? SASC maintains a public register of approved assessors. If an assessor is not on it, their APC may have lapsed.

4. Which professional body are you a member of? BDA, Dyslexia Guild, or PATOSS - membership of at least one is required to hold an APC.

5. Do you hold an Enhanced DBS? Non-negotiable for anyone working with children.

6. Do you carry professional indemnity insurance? This protects you as a client.

A note on educational psychologists: Some families are advised to seek an assessment from an educational psychologist (EP) rather than a specialist teacher assessor. EPs are registered with the HCPC and are qualified to assess for a wider range of conditions. However, for a dyslexia-specific assessment, a specialist teacher assessor holding AMBDA and an APC is the recognised standard - and often more accessible and faster to book than an EP referral through a local authority.

25 Years of Practice Behind the Credentials

Qualifications tell you what an assessor is trained to do. Experience tells you how well they do it.

Laura Gowers has spent 25 years working with dyslexic and neurodivergent individuals - first in the classroom, then in educational leadership, and now as a specialist assessor and coach through This Is Dyslexia. That background shapes every assessment: the ability to recognise patterns across hundreds of cases, to communicate findings clearly to parents and individuals, and to recommend strategies that are genuinely practical rather than theoretical.

The combination of credentials and experience matters because:

• Postgraduate qualifications ensure the assessment methodology is rigorous and standardised

• Professional memberships ensure practice remains current and externally verified

• Decades of direct work with learners ensures the assessment report is human, not just clinical

This Is Dyslexia offers assessments for children and adults, available in person in Kent and remotely across the UK. Every assessment is conducted by Laura personally - not delegated to an associate or junior practitioner.

FAQs

Q: What is AMBDA in dyslexia assessment?

AMBDA is a British Dyslexia Association accreditation that shows the assessor has completed a Level 7 postgraduate qualification in dyslexia assessment and specialist teaching. It signals recognised competence in diagnosing dyslexia and making assessment-based recommendations.

Q: What is an APC and why does it matter?

An Assessment Practising Certificate, or APC, is the benchmark standard for specialist teacher assessors in the UK. It confirms the assessor's qualifications, current practice and CPD, and it is required if a report may be used for Disabled Students' Allowance.

Q: Why is SASC important?

SASC sets the standards for dyslexia and specific learning difficulty assessment in the UK. It oversees the APC framework and maintains the criteria that assessors must meet, so SASC registration is a strong sign of externally verified practice.

Q: Do all dyslexia assessors need to be members of a professional body?

Yes. To hold an APC, assessors must belong to one of the approved professional bodies - the British Dyslexia Association, the Dyslexia Guild or PATOSS. Membership helps show that practice is governed by codes of conduct and ongoing CPD.

Q: What qualifications does Laura Gowers hold?

Laura holds AMBDA, an APC through the Dyslexia Guild, SASC registration, PATOSS professional membership, and a wide academic background including QTS, NASENCo, NPQSL and specialist postgraduate certificates in dyslexia and inclusion.

Ready to Book?

If you have questions about whether a This Is Dyslexia assessment is right for your child, yourself, or someone in your organisation, get in touch. Laura is happy to talk through what an assessment involves before you commit.

You can also view the full range of assessment and support services available, including post-assessment coaching and employer support packages.