Waiting for an assessment
The referral is in, and now, the wait. Waiting lists for children's assessments are long in much of the UK, and it can feel like your child's support is on hold until someone official says a word. It isn't. Support doesn't start with a diagnosis, and the months between referral and assessment are ones you can use.
What to do, step by step
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Find out exactly where things stand
Ask who is holding the referral and confirm it has been accepted, referrals do occasionally go astray. Ask the service what the typical wait is locally, whether there's anything offered in the meantime (some services run parent sessions or workshops while you wait), and how they'll contact you.
The NHS says an assessment can take a few months or longer once a referral is accepted, local waits vary a lot, so ask the service directly.
Worth gathering
- The date the referral was made, and the date it was accepted
- The name of the service holding it and a contact number
- Any reference number you're given
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Ask about Right to Choose if you're in England
In England, when a GP refers you for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases you have a legal right to choose which provider carries out the care, including for autism and ADHD assessments. Choosing a different NHS-commissioned provider can sometimes mean a shorter wait. Raise it with your GP at the point of referral, or ask whether an existing referral can be moved.
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Set up SEN support at school now
School support is based on your child's needs, not on a diagnosis, so there's no reason for it to wait for the assessment. Ask to meet the SENCO, agree what support will be put in place, and ask when it will be reviewed. Get the plan in writing, however informal.
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Keep building your evidence
Everything you record now feeds the assessment itself, assessment teams read reports from school and ask about your child's history, and supports any application for extra help later. Dated, specific and boring beats vivid and vague.
Worth gathering
- Dated notes of specific incidents, what happened, what helped
- School reports and any SEN support plans or reviews
- Letters or reports from any professional who has seen your child
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Consider whether to request an EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more support than their school can provide, you can ask your local authority for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment, and you don't need a diagnosis to apply. The local authority must tell you within 16 weeks whether an EHC plan will be made, and has 20 weeks from the request to issue the final plan.
Up to 20 weeks from the request to a final EHC plan; you'll know within 16 weeks whether a plan will be made.
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Chase when you need to, and speak up if things change
Ringing the service for an update isn't making a fuss; services expect it, and it keeps your child's file live. If your child's needs escalate while you wait, go back to your GP and tell the school rather than waiting it out. If you're getting nowhere, PALS, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service at your local NHS trust, can help you navigate.
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Use the wait to understand your child better
An assessment is a snapshot taken by people meeting your child for the first time; you're with them every day. Building a clear picture of their strengths and needs now means support at home and school doesn't have to wait, and you'll walk into the assessment organised, specific and hard to dismiss.
Common questions
Will getting other support affect our place on the waiting list?
Getting help at school, using parent programmes or building support at home while you wait doesn't remove your child from an NHS waiting list. If you're ever unsure, ask the service holding the referral directly.
Can we pay for a private assessment instead?
Some families do, to shorten the wait. Before committing, check with your GP and your child's school how a private diagnosis would be recognised locally, acceptance varies between NHS services and local authorities.
What if my child gets worse while we wait?
Go back to your GP and tell the school, referrals can be reprioritised when needs change, but only if the right people know. If you're ever worried about your child's immediate safety, contact your GP, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency.
How often is it reasonable to chase?
A polite call or email every couple of months is entirely normal, and worth making, it confirms the referral is still active and keeps your contact details current. Note the date and who you spoke to each time.
Where next on the journey
Diagnosis given?
Support after a diagnosis
What to ask the assessment team, how to update school, and what your family may be entitled to.
Read the guideNo diagnosis?
When your child doesn't get a diagnosis
An assessment without a diagnosis is not a dead end, what the report still gives you.
Read the guideDon't put the next few months on hold
Build your child's free profile while you wait, map their strengths and needs, get practical strategies, and walk into the assessment prepared.
Start your child's free profileTakes about 20 minutes · Free · No referral needed
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