Identifying Health Needs

Where assessment indicates that support from specialist services is required, it is important that children and young people receive it as quickly as possible…The Local Offer should set out clearly what support is available from different services and how it may be accessed.

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Colleges should ensure they have access to external specialist services and expertise. These can include, for example, educational psychologists, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), specialist teachers and support services, supported employment services and therapists.

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For children with complex needs identified at birth, after an injury or illness, or through their early years, you will likely have health professionals already working with you. They will let you know if they believe your child has Special Educational Needs, and can also guide you to other sources of support and information.

Health professionals have a duty to notify the local authority when they identify a child under compulsory school age as having (or probably having) SEN or a disability.

However you might be the person who notices differences around development or behaviour, this can often happen when a child starts nursery or school for example.

You can talk to their keyworker or Teacher about your observations, discuss what support might be needed, and decide next steps together.

You can also see your child’s GP and together you might talk about whether to make a referral to a specialist service or paediatrician.

If your child continues to make less than expected progress, the setting (nursery, school etc.) may talk to you about making a referral. This could be to a specialist health service, such as a school nurse or a speech and language therapist. Settings can make a referral into some health services, but not all.

You can read our information on Who To Talk To and SEN Support in Education Settings.

The Local Offer will give you information about services and how to access them.

Referrals to Specialists Services

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.

Seeking a Diagnosis

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.

Getting the Most Out of Your appointment

Before an appointment, it can be helpful to make notes about your observations and any points you want to raise

Also in this section:

The Definition of SEN and Disabilities

Explaining SEN and disabilities, and overlaps between the two.

Disability Living Allowance and Benefits

Information on benefits entitlements and allowances

Supporting your Neurodiverse Child

The Essex Family Forum have written and produced a pack which is full of useful information for families with a neurodiverse child.

Social Care

Information on carers assessments and needs assessments, carers respite & social care provision in an EHC plan