Our Assessors

Vicki co-founded My Kind of Thinking in 2020 with her colleague Alice. She has over 30 years of experience in education as a teacher and lecturer, and qualified as a specialist teacher in 2014.

Vicki has extensive experience assessing and supporting individuals with dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD. Alongside diagnostic assessments, she has provided study skills support to help learners develop effective strategies for reading, writing, organisation and information processing.

She has worked across further education, higher education and schools, including roles as a university study skills tutor, advisory teacher and qualified SENCO. Vicki also works with local schools, providing assessments for exam access arrangements. She is passionate about helping people understand their learning profile, recognise their strengths, and develop confidence and effective strategies in areas in which they may face difficulty.

Qualifications and Memberships

• AMBDA (FE/HE), MEd in Specific Learning Difficulties (Open)
• PGCE Secondary and SEN (Oxon),
• BSc Geography (ARU).
• Member of PATOSS, and APC holder through the BDA.

Alice is a co-founder of My Kind of Thinking and brings nearly 25 years of experience supporting adults and young people to realise their potential. She has worked across a wide range of educational settings, including universities, colleges, and adult community learning.

Alice began her career teaching IT, maths, and English to a diverse range of learners. She later specialised in specific learning difficulties (SpLDs), completing a Master’s degree at the University of Southampton in 2016 and qualifying to both teach and assess individuals with dyslexia and other SpLDs.

She is a strong advocate for assistive technology and believes that individuals are far more likely to succeed when they are equipped with the right tools—allowing them to build on their strengths while overcoming challenges.

Alice has also completed additional SASC-approved training, enabling her to explore ADHD and dyspraxia alongside dyslexia as part of her assessments.

Qualifications and Memberships

• MSc Education (Specific Learning Difficulties) and AMBDA FE/HE
• BA Education (Hons), Certificate in Education
• Member of PATOSS and APC holder with Dyslexia Guild

Laura has spent over 20 years teaching and supporting neurodivergent adults, including those with dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD. During this time, she has worked in a variety of settings — from workplaces and colleges to community learning — both in the United Kingdom and in her home country of New Zealand.

She is passionate about creating equal opportunities for everyone and strongly believes in the importance of championing each person’s unique strengths. An innovative workplace education programme Laura developed was highly commended at the New Zealand Diversity Awards.

Laura takes great care to create a calm, warm and welcoming atmosphere during each assessment. She understands that the process can sometimes feel daunting at first, and many individuals have expressed their appreciation for how positive and reassuring they found the experience.

One of the things Laura values most about her work is the opportunity to meet and support people from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities, and to play a small part in helping them better understand their strengths and potential.

Qualifications and Memberships:

• PGCert Spld (Dyslexia)
• Cert Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (New Zealand)
• PGCE Further Education
• Member and APC holder with the Dyslexia Guild
• BSc (Hons)

Nettie qualified as a teacher in 2005 and later as a SENCO since 2009. In 2016, she gained her Master’s in Special Educational Needs alongside her specialist teacher status, which enabled her to both teach and assess students with dyslexia. Alongside assessing, Nettie also tutors young people with dyslexia and those attending Alternative Provision. She has extensive experience with a wide range of neurodiverse needs.

Nettie holds a current Assessment Practicing Certificate (APC) and is registered with the British Dyslexia Association, PATOSS and is also a member of The Dyslexia Guild.

Qualifications and Memberships:

• BSc (Southampton Institute),
• PGCE QTS (Kingston),
• MSc Ed (Southampton),
• AMBDA, APC, MDG, PPM.

Jyoti is a qualified specialist dyslexia teacher/assessor and brings a broad and diverse professional background to her work with learners with Specific Learning Differences (SpLD). She has extensive experience supporting students through one-to-one teaching and in her role as a DSA Study Needs Assessor.

Prior to moving into the field of specialist education, Jyoti worked as a pharmacist in a clinical role for over 20 years. This healthcare background has provided her with strong analytical, assessment and patient-centred communication skills. Her interdisciplinary experience allows her to take a holistic approach when assessing adults, considering both cognitive, medical and practical factors that may influence learning and performance.

Jyoti is also qualified to assess for dyspraxia and ADHD. More recently, she has completed further university study, enabling her to contribute to the medical diagnosis and prescribing pathway for ADHD. She is committed to ongoing professional development, ensuring that her practice remains current, evidence-based and responsive to the evolving needs of the students she supports.

Qualifications and memberships:

• AMBDA (FE/HE), PGCert Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties (University of Birmingham)
• MPharm Pharmacy (University of Nottingham)
• Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing (University of Birmingham)
• APC holder and Membership with British Dyslexia Association (BDA)

Caroline has almost 30 years of experience in education. She began her career as a teacher and qualified in dyslexia assessment 17 years ago. Her interest in special educational needs comes from learning differences within her family.

Since qualifying, Caroline has carried out diagnostic assessments in schools, colleges, universities, and workplaces. She also works with the charity Helen Arkell, where she provides assessments and has delivered workshops for Level 7 students.

Following updated SASC guidance, Caroline is now updating her qualification in dyscalculia so she can carry out assessments in this area as well. She has already completed workshops and training sessions and is keen to continue developing her work in this field.

Qualifications and Memberships:

• BSc Hons
• PGCE – Post Graduate Certificate in Education
• AMBDA – Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association
• E801- Difficulties in Literacy Development
• APC – Assessment Practising Certificate
• Dyscalculia and Mathematical Learning Difficulties: Identification and Intervention Level 5 and currently undertaking Level 7. Due to be completed by September
• Member of British Dyslexia Association (BDA)
• Member of PATOSS
• Member of Hampshire Dyslexia Association and the Dyslexia Guild