The Informal Assessment
The informal assessment is the first step in every Flourishing Kids programme. In a 1 to 1.5 hour online session, Dr. V.S. Gayathri, a Certified Dyslexia Therapist, Orton-Gillingham trained, evaluates your child's reading, spelling, and related skills through structured literacy tasks, observation, and a parent interview. You receive a detailed written report and a one-on-one debrief with a recommended plan.
Why is it called an informal assessment?
Parents often ask about the name. A formal assessment is a clinical process: licensed psychologists, standardised tests, and a diagnosis at the end. That is not what this is.
The informal assessment is Dr. Gayathri's own way of understanding your child. It is structured, but it is not a fixed protocol. It is shaped around one child and one family: which skills are secure, which are missing, and what you want for your child. That is why it is called informal.
There is no diagnosis, because designing the right intervention does not need one. What you get is a clear, honest picture of where your child is and a plan to move forward.
What does the assessment cover?
Phonological awareness
Can your child hear and play with the sounds inside words: rhymes, syllables, and individual sounds?
Decoding and word reading
How does your child attack unfamiliar words? Sounding out, guessing from pictures, or memorising shapes?
Reading fluency
Speed, accuracy, and expression when reading connected text, not just single words.
Spelling
Which spelling patterns are secure, which are shaky, and what the errors reveal about underlying gaps.
Comprehension
Whether the effort of decoding leaves room to actually understand and enjoy what was read.
Behaviour, attention & oral language
How your child engages, sustains attention, and expresses ideas out loud, all of which shape the programme design.
What do you receive afterwards?
- ✓ A detailed written report of what the assessment found, in plain language, not jargon.
- ✓ A one-on-one session with Dr. Gayathri, where she explains her analysis and observations, the interventions she recommends, how the sessions would be structured, and answers your questions.
- ✓ A recommended programme: session frequency, focus areas, and what progress to expect. No obligation to continue.
How should you prepare your child?
There's nothing to study and nothing to pass. Tell your child they'll be doing some reading games and puzzles with a friendly teacher. The session is deliberately child-friendly, and most children enjoy it. Please make sure your child is rested, has a quiet room, and a stable internet connection.
What happens next?
If the findings suggest structured intervention would help, Dr. Gayathri will propose a programme designed for your child. If a different kind of support would serve your child better, she'll tell you that instead, and point you in the right direction.
Not sure whether to start with the assessment? Book a free 15-minute consultation first and talk it through with Dr. Gayathri.
Common questions
Why is it called an informal assessment?
A formal assessment is a clinical, psychometric process carried out by licensed psychologists using standardised tests, and it produces a formal diagnosis. The informal assessment is Dr. Gayathri's own structured way of understanding your child, shaped around your child's needs and your goals as a parent. It informs teaching rather than producing a diagnosis, which is why it is called informal.
Does my child need a formal diagnosis before the assessment?
No. Many families come to Flourishing Kids without any diagnosis, just a concern about reading or spelling. The informal assessment gives Dr. Gayathri everything she needs to design a programme. If your child would benefit from a formal evaluation, for example for school accommodations, she will tell you and point you to the right professionals.
How long does the informal assessment take?
The session with your child takes 1 to 1.5 hours, held online over video. A parent interview is part of the process, and once the written report is ready, Dr. Gayathri walks you through the findings in a separate conversation.
What does the assessment cover?
Six areas: phonological awareness, decoding and word reading, reading fluency, spelling, comprehension, and behaviour, attention and oral language. Together these show which literacy skills are secure, which are missing, and how your child responds to teaching.
How much does the informal assessment cost?
Fees are shared when you message Dr. Gayathri on WhatsApp. As a general guide, an informal assessment costs a small fraction of a formal psychometric evaluation, which involves a licensed clinical team and standardised testing. The written report and the recommended plan are included.
What do parents receive after the assessment?
Two things: a detailed written report in plain language, and a one-on-one session with Dr. Gayathri where she explains her analysis and observations, the interventions she recommends, and how the sessions would be structured, covering frequency, focus areas, and the progress you can expect. There is no obligation to continue into a programme.
How does an online assessment work for a young child?
Your child joins a video call with Dr. Gayathri from a quiet room at home, with a parent nearby. The tasks are short, varied, and presented as reading games and puzzles, so most children enjoy the session. All you need is a laptop or tablet and a stable internet connection.
What happens after the assessment?
If the findings suggest structured intervention would help, Dr. Gayathri proposes a programme designed for your child. If a different kind of support would serve your child better, she says so and points you in the right direction.
Ready to book?
Message Dr. Gayathri on WhatsApp and she'll find a slot that suits your time zone.
Book the assessment on WhatsApp