Who can refer my child?

Only a professional can refer your child. This could be:

  • A GP (doctor).
  • A health visitor.
  • A teacher or SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator).
  • A social worker or family support worker

Parents cannot refer their child directly.

Why has my child been referred?

Your child has been referred because someone (you, a teacher, or a health professional) has noticed your child may be developing differently.

 

We want to check if your child might be autistic and if an assessment is needed.

What support is needed before a referral?

We ask for evidence that 6 months (or two terms) of support before a child is referred to the pathway.

 

Schools and Nursery in Birmingham must follow a step-by-step (graduated) approach to support children:

  1. Support from the school, such as extra help in class.
  2. Support with outside help, like advice from specialists.
  3. Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) for children with more complex needs.

 

Examples of support your child might get:

  • Help from a teaching assistant.
  • Easier or adapted tasks.
  • Extra time to finish work.
  • Praise and encouragement.
  • Help with writing or organising work.
  • Speech and language therapy.
  • Mental health support.
  • Help from autism or SEND teams.


If you're unsure if the support your child has had is enough, call the NDP Team:  0121 466 6825

Who will be involved in the assessment?

Your child may see:

  • Speech and Language Therapists.
  • Psychologists.
  • Paediatricians.
  • Occupational Therapists.
  • Nurses.
  • Clinical Assistants.

How long will we wait?

  • First, we check if the referral meets our criteria.
  • If it does, your child goes on the waiting list.
  • We’ll send questionnaires to you and your child’s school or nursery.
  • If these aren’t returned, the referral will be rejected.

 

After reviewing the forms, we may:

  • Accept your child for an autism assessment.
  • Refer your child to a different service.
  • Reject the referral if more support is needed first.

 

We aim to see your child within 33 weeks, but this may change depending on demand.

Latest waiting times

What can we do while we wait?

Ask your:

  • Health Visitor.
  • Nursery or school.
  • Local team.

…for help and support while you wait.


You can also contact the NDP team:

Our patients and their carers and families are the reason we're here, so we want to hear your views about the Trust and our services.