When you speak to your GP, health visitor, nursery or school setting they may refer your child to the relevant team to be assessed.
There are support services providing information and advice that you can access locally while you wait for this assessment to take place.
Visit SEND support in schools, colleges and nurseries to learn more about what support you can expect from mainstream schools and speak to your school or education setting about accessing that support for your child.
Visit the Stephen Wiltshire Centre. This is a family hub specialist centre for children and young people (0 - 25 years old) with SEND and their families. The centre offers information, advice, support and group sessions.
The Educational Psychology Service runs workshops for families with children aged 0 - 5 years who are on the waiting list for a autism or neurodevelopmental assessment at Cheyne Child Development Centre. Please contact the team for upcoming sessions.
The Contact Helping Hand Project charity provides support for families of children with additional needs. They provide confidential support and advice as well as participation in a support group covering all aspects of living with a child with an additional need. Contact Helping Hands parent support group sessions (pdf)
The Child Development Service Cheyne provides this information for parents and carers of children awaiting a multidisciplinary social communication assessment:
- For under 5 years old children please visit Cheyne Child Development: while you wait leaflet - pre-school age
- For school aged children: Cheyne Child Development: while you wait leaflet - school age
The Centre for ADHD and Autism Support hosts an online Youth Group for young people (11-19 years old) with an attention deficit disorder (ADHD) or autism including those on a pathway to receiving a diagnosis.