What is SASC?

SpLD Assessment Standards Committee

This steering committee is a standard-setting group concerned with the diagnostic assessment of specific learning difficulties in an educational setting. The authority for this committee and its remit stem from the SpLD Working Group 2005/DfES Guidelines. The committee seeks to extend the principles of good practice contained in the Guidelines across all age ranges and throughout the profession.

SASC aims to

  • implement the training recommendations of the SpLD Working Group 2005/DfES Guidelines
  • promote and monitor standards of SpLD assessor training relating to all age ranges
  • promote continuing professional development in SpLD assessment
  • advise on models of good practice in this continuing professional development
  • monitor standards of this continuing professional development
  • provide a forum for sharing good practice from a range of interested bodies
  • draw on expertise across the sector
  • provide guidance on training, implementation of standards
  • oversee and approve processes of awarding SpLD Assessment Practising Certificates
  • maintain list of approved evaluators for APL/APE applications
  • provide training for evaluators
  • approve courses as meeting standards of SpLD assessor training

This group encompasses the SpLD Test Evaluation Committee [STEC] which serves to

  • evaluate test tools
  • review the approved/recommended tests of the SpLD Working Group 2005/DfES
  • provide a forum for sharing good practice from a range of interested bodies
  • draw on expertise across the sector
  • maintain list of approved testing tools for SpLDs in higher education



Please note:
Updated Test Guidelines for 2009-10 issued

These can be downloaded from this website >[SpLD Assessment]

DSA Guidance Revised


Revised edition of the DSA guidance chapter for LAs is published on the DBIS website at this link.


Updated DSA guidance for LAs is published on the Student Finance website
click here


Updated Test Guidelines 09-10 issued [download]