Service : Autism Assessment Service for children and young people

We provide autism assessments for children and young people from 2 and a half to 17 and a half years old.

Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects the way people communicate with others, and make sense of the world around them.

We do not offer assessments for children under 2 and a half years old.

For young people aged 18 years or over, please visit our Adult Autism Assessment service.

• Adult Autism Assessment Service

Our team

We're a team of specialists, including:

• speech and language therapists
• psychologists
• occupational therapists
• social workers
• community paediatricians
• specialist mental health practitioners
• specialist nurses
• assistant psychologists
• administrators

We work in a range of locations across Berkshire.

A referral is a request to start an assessment. It can come from a parent, carer, school or a health professional.

Children aged 2 and a half to 4 in East Berkshire

If you’re referring a child aged 2 and a half to 4 years who has a GP in East Berkshire, please read our referral guidance to make sure it gets directed to the right teams.

• Parents and carers referring children under 5 in East Berkshire
• Professionals referring children under 5 in East Berkshire
• Information about preparing for an assessment

All other referrals are made together by families and the child’s nursery or school. This helps us get a full picture from the people who know the child best. You will fill in an extra information form together and upload it with the online referral form.

A referral should only be made after a support plan has been in place for at least six months (or two school terms) and has been fully tried and reviewed.

This helps us understand what has already been done to support the child and what they need next.

• Make a referral
• Guidance on making a referral
• Referral link – additional information for making a referral

We'll review your referral, and send you a letter.

It will tell you whether we think an autism assessment is needed, and what will happen next. We can also recommend guides and support while you wait for the appointment.

If we don’t think an assessment is needed, we’ll explain why and suggest other ways to get help.

Your appointment

You’ll be invited to one of our centres for your assessment.

Two of our team members will meet with you. One will talk to you as the parent or carer, and the other will spend time with the child or young person.

The appointment lasts up to 3 hours. We’ll also look at forms and reports from others who know your child. Sometimes we can give feedback the same day, but we might need more information, like a school visit.

If autism is diagnosed, we’ll share support options for home and school, including local autism-specific workshops, specialist advisory teachers (where available), and an online support network.

If autism is not diagnosed, we’ll discuss the young person’s strengths and differences, and recommend other sources of support such as other parenting workshops or groups.

Assessments in East Berkshire

An autism assessment with a child or young person can take different forms. 

The aim is to collect observations from different perspectives to help form a diagnosis.

To do this, we'll offer a joint assessment, which will likely include a child health specialist (community paediatrician) and a speech and language therapist (SLT).

If your child is already being supported by different care teams, they may not need a joint assessment with a SLT.

During and after the assessment

Up to 2 adults may come to the appointment with the child. We ask that siblings should not attend, to prevent distractions.

We may ask our junior colleagues to come into the appointment as part of their training, but we will talk with you about this.

The length of the assessment can vary. The play-based assessment last around 30 to 40 minutes, with time for feedback after a short break. Please feel free to bring drink and snack for the child.

During the break, our paediatrician and speech and language therapist (SLT) will talk about what they have found. 

If we diagnose your child with autism, we'll talk about local and online support. We'll then send the summary report to you, which can take up to 4 weeks to arrive.

You can use your copy of the report as evidence of the diagnosis, strengths and difficulties of your child. Unless there are additional medical needs, your child will not need a follow-up with a community paediatrician.

Our specialist will call you about six weeks after diagnosis to see how you are and to tell you about parent groups and workshops.

Visit our Community Paediatrics service for more support.

• Community Paediatric Service (East Berkshire): Community Paediatric Service (East Berkshire)

Discover practical strategies to support children with their attention, activity, communication, sensory needs, emotions and behaviour.

• Attention, activity, emotions, and behaviour
• Communication, sensory needs, emotions, and behaviour

Visit our resource pages which explain how you can spot when a child may need support for possible autism and/or ADHD, and the steps towards assessment.

• Parents and carers - how to request help
• Professionals - how to request help

Read our guide on what to do if you think your child may have autism or ADHD. It explains how to create a support plan, access help without a diagnosis, and when to consider an assessment.

Anna Freud

The Anna Freud Emotion Wheel for Children is a simple, colourful tool that helps kids identify and talk about their feelings.

• Visit Anna Freud: Visit Anna Freud

The Autism Page

A personal blog from a mum of two autistic boys sharing information, experiences, and support.

• Visit The Autism Page: Visit The Autism Page

Autism Toolbox

A toolkit to support the inclusion of autistic learners in early learning settings, primary and secondary schools.

• Visit Autism Toolbox: Visit Autism Toolbox

Calm and Connected

Provide mobile, clinical and online support to the adults surrounding a child, and teach the child how to address the foundational skills that affect our ability to connect.

• Visit Calm and Connected: Visit Calm and Connected

National Autistic Society

Supports autistic people and their families with everything from running specialist schools, campaigning for improved rights and training companies on being more autism-friendly.

• Visit National Autistic Society: Visit National Autistic Society

Community Paediatrics

Please see our contact information below for children under 5 in East Berkshire.

ASD Family Help

Open to all autistic individuals or those with associated conditions (for example dyslexia, dyspraxia, OCD, anxiety, PDA, ADHD).

• Visit ASD Family Help: Visit ASD Family Help

ASSIST

Autism Spectrum Service for Information Support and Training (ASSIST) is a family support service provided by Wokingham Borough Council. It supports children and young people under 18 who have an autism diagnosis or are currently awaiting an assessment.

• Visit ASSIST: Visit ASSIST

Autism Berkshire

A leading autism charity in Berkshire, offering specialist services, training, and fun social activities across the county. The charity is guided by a team of trustees who bring both personal and professional experience of autism.

• Visit Autism Berkshire: Visit Autism Berkshire

GEMs4Health

Supports families in East Berkshire with free workshops and activities for those with a diagnosis of Autism, ADHD, or if you're on the waiting list for assessment.

• Visit GEMs4Health: Visit GEMs4Health

Parenting Special Children

Draws on both lived experience and professional expertise to provide specialist information, expert advice, and a compassionate listening ear.

• Visit Parenting Special Children: Visit Parenting Special Children