diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/core/__init__.py b/src/ophyd_async/core/__init__.py
index 103638019d..d595335b67 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/core/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/core/__init__.py
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
     SignalRW,
     SignalW,
     SignalX,
+    assert_reading,
+    assert_value,
     observe_value,
     set_and_wait_for_value,
     set_sim_callback,
@@ -73,6 +75,8 @@
     "set_sim_put_proceeds",
     "set_sim_value",
     "wait_for_value",
+    assert_value,
+    assert_reading,
     "AsyncStatus",
     "DirectoryInfo",
     "DirectoryProvider",
diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py b/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py
index 927faaf402..32698bebef 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py
@@ -2,7 +2,16 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import functools
-from typing import AsyncGenerator, Callable, Dict, Generic, Optional, Union
+from typing import (
+    Any,
+    AsyncGenerator,
+    Callable,
+    Dict,
+    Generic,
+    Optional,
+    Sequence,
+    Union,
+)
 
 from bluesky.protocols import (
     Descriptor,
@@ -253,6 +262,37 @@ def set_sim_callback(signal: Signal[T], callback: ReadingValueCallback[T]) -> No
     return _sim_backends[signal].set_callback(callback)
 
 
+async def verify_readable(
+    func: Readable | Dict[str, Any],
+    expected: Dict[str, Any],
+) -> None:
+    """verify readable"""
+    expectation = expected
+    for signal in expectation:
+        for field in expectation[signal]:
+            if field == "timestamp":
+                assert isinstance(func["sim_signal"]["timestamp"], float)
+            else:
+                assert func[signal][field] == expectation[signal][field]
+
+
+async def assert_value(signal: SignalR[T], value: T) -> None:
+    """assert value"""
+    assert await signal.get_value() == value
+
+
+async def assert_reading(readable: Readable, reading: Reading) -> None:
+    """assert reading"""
+    await verify_readable(readable, reading)
+
+
+async def assert_configuration(
+    readable: Readable, configuration: Sequence[SignalR]
+) -> None:
+    """assert configuration"""
+    await verify_readable(readable, configuration)
+
+
 async def observe_value(signal: SignalR[T], timeout=None) -> AsyncGenerator[T, None]:
     """Subscribe to the value of a signal so it can be iterated from.
 
diff --git a/tests/core/test_signal.py b/tests/core/test_signal.py
index 5393cb1a78..3c1d79e866 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_signal.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_signal.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
     Signal,
     SignalRW,
     SimSignalBackend,
+    assert_reading,
+    assert_value,
     set_and_wait_for_value,
     set_sim_put_proceeds,
     set_sim_value,
@@ -119,3 +121,17 @@ async def test_set_and_wait_for_value():
     assert not st.done
     set_sim_put_proceeds(sim_signal, True)
     assert await time_taken_by(st) < 0.1
+
+
+async def test_helper_funtion():
+    sim_signal = SignalRW(SimSignalBackend(int, "test"))
+    sim_signal.set_name("sim_signal")
+    await sim_signal.connect(sim=True)
+    set_sim_value(sim_signal, 168)
+    await assert_value(sim_signal, 168)
+
+    dummy_readable = {
+        "sim_signal": {"alarm_severity": 0, "timestamp": 46709394.28, "value": 168}
+    }
+    reading = await sim_signal.read()
+    await assert_reading(reading, dummy_readable)