Requests for Autism Referrals and ADHD Referrals

The learning support team has received a high number of the referrals over the past two years from parents requesting either autism or ADHD referrals for their young person. We have tried to be as supportive and responsive as possible to these requests as we understand how helpful a diagnosis can be for a young person and their family.

Please be aware that the referral criteria determined by the Autism Assessment Service for South Glos and the referral criteria determined by the community paediatric service has NOW CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY as of March 1st 2023. 

This means that there are now very few young people who will meet the criteria and an accepted referral will be rare. The new criteria also applied to students who are currently on the waiting list for an assessment.

Please note - These criteria are not within the control of the Learning Support Department at Castle School and we cannot make a referral/escalate an existing referral unless your child meets the new thresholds.

Please also be aware that some other professionals may not be aware of these new regulations - therefore if a GP, medical or social care professional suggests that the school needs to make a referral we will still need to meet the new threshold criteria.

The new criteria can be found here:

Autism referrals: https://www.sirona-cic.org.uk/nhsservices/childrens-services/referral-for-a-specialist-autism-assessment-service/

Paediatric referrals: https://www.sirona-cic.org.uk/nhsservices/childrens-services/community-paediatrics-updated-referral-criteria/

For those families who need more information and support please see refer to the following links:

https://www.sirona-cic.org.uk/nhsservices/childrens-services/advice-and-signposting/

https://sgpc.org.uk/

• We can signpost you to helpful agencies and organisations

• We can explore on an informal level whether your young person has challenges with: attention and focus; concentration; social communication and sensory processing and we can use this to make a plan for their support in school

• We can work with young people and families to explore and explain different types of neurodiversity and celebrate the strengths / recognise the challenges of this

• We can support with social emotional and mental health needs related to ADHD and autism through strategies such as: Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) working in small groups and 1:1; mentoring and referral for counselling; discussions with our primary mental health lead (CAMHS); and social skills interventions.

If you wish to discuss the possibility that your child is neurodiverse and you feel they need support in school, please do contact our team to make an appointment via Louise.Owen@cset.co.uk (SEND administrator)

Many thanks for your understanding, The Learning Support Team