Communication and interaction
Who is referred?
Children who have limited communication and social interaction skills.
Children who are displaying autistic traits.
Children who are at least 3 years old.
Decision making process
The following steps can take up to a month.
The Paediatrician makes a referral to the triage panel.
The Paediatrician will request further information from the child’s early years setting, if they attend one.
A list of children at panel is shared with colleagues from the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) teams at the Local Authority (LA).
The triage panel meets monthly, and consists of a Paediatrician, Speech & Language Therapist (SLT), Specialist Nursery Nurse (SPNN), Admin, and SEND representatives.
The following steps can take up to a week.
The triage panel checks the child’s health record, and the SEND team are asked to share information if the early years setting has requested support from them.
A decision is made whether the child is accepted onto the assessment pathway or not.
If the child is not accepted, then the Paediatrician is informed, and they arrange contact with the parent carers.
Letters are sent to parent carers and education setting advising of the outcome and advice line contact details.
NOTE: All timeframes provided are estimates.
Before the assessment
Up to 6 weeks before the assessment.
The Child Development Centre (CDC) admin team will call parent carers to check possible dates for assessment.
The CDC admin team send an appointment letter to parent carers with confirmed date, time and location of the assessment.
A questionnaire is sent electronically to parent carers and the early years setting to complete and return.
The Child’s name and date of assessment is shared with the Educational Psychology Service (EPS). The EP may visit the child in their early years setting to observe and gather information.
One week before the assessment.
A Specialist Nursery Nurse (SPNN) calls parent carers to explain the process for assessment.
All relevant information is collated using an autism diagnostic framework.
NOTE: All timeframes provided are estimates.
During the assessment
The family and child visit the Child Development Centre (CDC) at Stepping Stones (Telford) or Monkmoor (Shrewsbury) for the assessment appointment.
This is a group assessment, with other children, on the same pathway.
The parent carers spend time with one of the Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) to discuss their child’s strengths, needs and strategies to support their communication.
Speech and Language Therapists (SLT’s) and Specialist Nursery Nurses (SPNN’s) gather observations and add them to the autism diagnostic framework.
After the assessment
Within two months.
The Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) or Specialist Nursery Nurse (SPNN) have a video call on Microsoft Teams with the Paediatrician to discuss the observations and agree whether the criteria is met or not.
The child’s parent carers are invited to join the online feedback meeting on Microsoft Teams where the decision will be discussed.
An autism diagnosis can be given if the diagnostic framework is met. An autism diagnosis will not be given if the diagnostic framework is not met.
Aim within four weeks.
A multi-disciplinary report will be finalised and sent electronically to families (with permission). The report is sent as soon as possible.
Parent carers are asked permission for copies of the report to be sent to the education setting, SEND teams, the child’s GP and the health visiting service.
The report includes a summary of the reasons for or against any diagnosis and recommended actions and advice.
The Child Development Centre (CDC) advice line is available if parents have further questions for 6 months after the assessment.
The multi-disciplinary report can be used for up to 12 months after the assessment to inform an Education and Health Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA), if needed.
NOTE: All timeframes provided are estimates.
Further information
Communication and interaction pathway information sheets available to download.
Find out more in the glossary of terms
Find signposting information for Telford and Wrekin
Find signposting information for Shropshire