4 to 5 pathway
Who is referred?
Children who have difficulties with social communication and interaction skills.
Children who have suspected autism but do not meet the criteria for one of the other assessment pathways.
Children who are school age.
Decision Making Process
The following steps will take up to one month.
The Paediatrician makes a referral to the triage panel.
The Paediatrician will request further information from the child’s education setting.
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 will take up to one 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 parents/carers and education setting advising of the outcome and advice line contact details.
NOTE: All timeframes provided are estimates.
Before the Assessment
Six weeks notice
The Child Development Centre (CDC) admin team send an appointment letter to parent carers with date, time and location for the assessment.
Questionnaires are sent electronically to parent carers and the child’s education setting to complete and return.
A member of the clinical team may visit the child in their education setting or at home if further observations are needed.
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.
NOTE: All timeframes provided are estimates.
During the Assessment
Some children may be invited for a group assessment session with other children on the same pathway if appropriate. Alternatively, the assessment may take place in the child's educational setting or at home.
The group sessions take place at the Child Development Centre (CDC) at Stepping Stones (Telford) or Monkmoor (Shrewsbury)
Parent carers are asked to remain on site but are not in the assessment room during the assessment.
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
The following steps are 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
4 to 5 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