Children’s Commissioner highlights severe delays for SEND assessment and support

Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has released a new report highlighting  deteriorating waiting times for assessment and support for autism, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

The report suggests that an estimated 400,000 children in England are currently seeking health services support for suspected neurodevelopmental conditions, with thousands waiting more than 2 years for first appointments. Children with Down’s syndrome waiting 2 years and with cerebral palsy waiting 3 years or more for diagnosis.

De Souza said “We have created a system which is working against itself, forcing children and families to jump through endless hoops to get the help they need has huge knock-on effects for the capacity of statutory services, which are often the last resort. 

Children are often waiting years for the assessment and support services they need: on average a child waits over a year for an appointment with a community paediatrician, and two and a half years to see a school nurse. At such a critical time developmentally, every day a child waits for support could permanently alter their life course.”

Read the full report here