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Last month (December 24) 421 parent/carers & young people accessed our service which led to a total of 2,026 emails, contact forms, telephone calls & meetings. Contact us if you need our advice and support.  

If you think your child may have additional needs, it is normal to feel unsure about what to do or even to feel overwhelmed. As a parent, you will hear lots of advice and sometimes this can be confusing or even conflicting. You might disagree with your partner about what to do or feel worried about your child being labelled with a diagnosis.

Taking the step towards seeking diagnosis can often be a relief to both parent and to a child who might be feeling different, but not understanding why.  However, it is your personal choice, and the following questions may be helpful:

  • What does my child say, do they notice they are different and how is this affecting them?
  • What are the alternatives, i.e. can we support my child without a diagnosis? (Talk to school, GP and any other professionals involved).
  • What will be the impact of going ahead with a referral, e.g. will a diagnosis mean we can access support?

Some parents decide to request a referral and then wait and see – using the waiting time (which can be lengthy) as additional time to decide.

In education settings, support for SEN is not dependent on a medical diagnosis.  A diagnosis does not always indicate the level of level of support or provision that is needed to effectively support a child with special educational needs. A person-centred approach should be used to identify each individual need and provision put in place to support and ensure progress and full potential is being met. 

For information on special educational needs support.

Sometimes a setting, the local authority or health professional are unsure how to support your child.  In this situation they might suggest you consent to a referral to a specialist service for advice so they can better understand your child's needs.

You should have the opportunity to speak with or meet any specialist that sees your child. They will:

  • explain their role
  • explain any observations or assessments they will carry out
  • tell you what will happen next.

Healthcare is divided into areas in Essex and each diagnostic pathway can vary, see below for further details:-

Mid and South Essex

My Care Bridge, the online portal for new referrals for children and young people’s autism and ADHD services in mid and south Essex, is now live

The portal is easy to use and secure. It has been developed in collaboration with healthcare and education professionals, and families.

The following professional can make referrals:

  • education settings (including nurseries, schools, and colleges),
  • GPs, health visitors, and other health professionals

Parents and carers will be sent a login when a referral has been made. They will then be able to:

  • provide information for their child’s referral
  • track the referral
  • access a library of local support available

The portal is for children and young people who are aged up to 18 years old and registered with a GP in mid and south Essex.

Find out about the NHS Referral process

West Essex 

Essex Family Wellbeing Specialist Services

North East Essex

Essex Family Wellbeing Neurodevelopmental Pathway