Overview
We regularly review the Neurodevelopmental Pathway, which supports children, young people and families in Somerset with autism and ADHD.
We work with people across Somerset to make sure any changes are made together and reflect everyone’s needs.
Improvements
The Pre-assessment Pathway for Autism and ADHD started in July 2021. It was designed by education, health and care services working together.
It aims to make sure children and young people get the right support and the right assessment.
Key changes are:
- Any professional working with your child can ask for an assessment, if there is clear evidence.
- The Next Steps form is used to collect the information needed for an assessment request.
- Schools and settings link requests to the graduated response (in the SEND Code of Practice). This means they should show what support has already been tried.
- If you home educate, Somerset Parent Carer Forum can support you to complete the Next Steps form.
- SENDIAS can offer support if you and the school do not agree about asking for an assessment.
- A multi-disciplinary triage team (MDT) reviews all requests. This helps make sure the right children are put forward for assessment.
Advice and support:
- Professionals can use a pre-assessment email service to ask for advice or guidance.
- The Neuro-affirmative Support Hub offers a telephone advice line for families and professionals. You can get practical tips, strategies to try at home or in school, information about other support services.
- Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) can join a half-termly discussion group. This offers training, peer support, and time to talk through children’s needs.
More help while you wait:
- A myth busting page explains how assessment and diagnosis work. It helps to clear up common misunderstandings.
- WISE Up Workshops are available online and in person for parents. These are based on parent feedback and offer helpful advice and strategies.
- Waiting times are published so you know what to expect.
Impact
Feedback shows the pathway is helpful and valued by schools and professionals.
SENCOs say it works well when they have support from school leaders and enough time to do their job. It fits with their role in providing a graduated response for children and young people with SEND.
SENCOs also say the pathway makes the process clearer. They no longer need to go through a GP to request an assessment. This means school information is more likely to be included from the start.
A multi-disciplinary team (MDT) reviews each request. This helps make sure:
- children who need an assessment are identified
- other children are directed to the right support early
The Next Steps form gives clearer and better-quality information than before. This helps services make more informed decisions.
Support offers, such as the advice email and SENCO discussion groups, are well used and highly rated by those who access them.
