About SkillScan

The Science Behind Online Screeners

Online screening tools like SkillScan are grounded in decades of research into learning difficulties, cognitive assessment, and educational psychology. Digital screeners have become increasingly effective because they combine evidence-based assessment frameworks with the accessibility and efficiency of modern technology.

Why Online Screeners Are Effective

1. Standardized Assessment

Online screeners deliver consistent, standardized questions to every student, eliminating variability in administration. This ensures that results are comparable across different students, classes, and time periods.

2. Evidence-Based Domains

SkillScan assessments target research-validated indicators of learning difficulties, including:

  • Phonological Awareness: The ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken language
  • Letter-Sound Knowledge: Understanding the relationship between letters and their sounds
  • Word Reading Fluency: Speed and accuracy in recognizing words
  • Reading Comprehension: Understanding and interpreting written text
  • Spelling: The ability to encode words accurately

3. Early Identification

Research consistently shows that early identification of learning difficulties leads to better outcomes. Online screeners make it practical for schools to assess all students regularly, catching difficulties before they become entrenched.

4. Objective Data Collection

Digital tools record student responses precisely, providing objective data free from observer bias. This supports more reliable decision-making about intervention needs.

5. Efficiency and Accessibility

Online screeners allow teachers to assess many students quickly, making universal screening feasible even in resource-constrained environments. Results are available immediately, enabling timely intervention.

6. Progress Monitoring

The ability to re-administer screeners over time provides valuable data on student growth and intervention effectiveness, supporting a response-to-intervention (RTI) approach.

✓ Professional Oversight & Verification

SkillScan has been developed and verified by a qualified teaching professional with specialization in teaching support and learning difficulties.

Expert Development

The screening questions, scoring algorithms, and interpretation frameworks have been:

  • Designed by educators with expertise in literacy and learning support
  • Aligned with current research on dyslexia and related learning difficulties
  • Calibrated to age-appropriate expectations across year groups
  • Validated through pilot testing with real students
  • Reviewed for cultural and linguistic appropriateness

Ongoing Quality Assurance

SkillScan undergoes continuous review to ensure:

  • Questions remain relevant and effective
  • Scoring thresholds reflect current best practices
  • AI-generated reports are accurate and actionable
  • The system evolves with emerging research

Teacher Expertise Required

While SkillScan provides data-driven insights, it is designed to support, not replace, professional judgment. Teachers with knowledge of each student's context, strengths, and needs are essential for interpreting results meaningfully.

The Role of AI in Report Generation

SkillScan uses artificial intelligence to analyze screening results and generate narrative reports. The AI has been trained to:

  • Identify patterns in student responses across multiple domains
  • Highlight areas of strength and concern
  • Suggest evidence-based next steps for teachers
  • Present findings in clear, accessible language

However, AI-generated reports should always be reviewed by qualified professionals before informing educational decisions. They are a tool to enhance teacher insight, not a substitute for clinical diagnosis or comprehensive assessment.

Important Limitations

  • Not a Diagnostic Tool: SkillScan is a screener, not a diagnostic assessment. Students identified as at-risk should be referred for comprehensive evaluation by qualified specialists.
  • One Data Point: Screening results should be considered alongside classroom observations, work samples, and other assessments.
  • Context Matters: Factors such as English as an additional language, anxiety, attention difficulties, or environmental stressors can affect performance.
  • Professional Judgment Essential: Teachers must use their professional knowledge to interpret results in the context of each student's unique situation.

Research Foundations

SkillScan is informed by research into:

  • The Simple View of Reading (Gough & Tunmer, 1986)
  • Phonological deficit theory of dyslexia (Snowling, 2000)
  • Response to Intervention (RTI) frameworks
  • Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS)
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles
  • Evidence-based literacy instruction (Ehri, Galuschka, et al.)

Commitment to Best Practice

SkillScan is committed to:

  • Basing all assessments on peer-reviewed research
  • Maintaining professional oversight by qualified educators
  • Updating content to reflect evolving understanding of learning difficulties
  • Protecting student privacy and complying with GDPR
  • Supporting teachers with actionable, evidence-based insights
  • Promoting equity and access to high-quality screening for all students

Questions about the science or methodology behind SkillScan? Contact us at contact@solutionsdeveloped.co.uk