Neurodevelopmental Pathway Update
Colleagues in NHS Cheshire and Merseyside have shared a position statement on the Neurodevelopmental (ND) Pathway in Wirral.
The statement gives details on the current position of the ND Pathway. It also shows the ongoing work and the plans to enhance the service. You can read the full statement here on SENDLO: Position statement - ND Pathway.
We’ve put together the following summary of the statement. This gives you a clear overview of the ND Pathway and what work is taking place to improve it.
What is the ND Pathway?
The ND Pathway is the local offer of support for neurodivergent children and young people.
What is the current situation?
The waiting list for assessments is very long right now.
The Local Area SEND Partnership in Wirral plans to cut waiting times for the ND Pathway. This will make it a much better service for children, young people, and their families.
The Local Area SEND Partnership Board has listened to parents, carers, and young people. It has also heard from education professionals. The Board understands that there is a need for:
A consistent offer of support earlier in the process.
Better communication with families on waiting lists.
A wider understanding and awareness of neurodiversity. A wider knowledge of neurodevelopmental support.
The Local Area SEND Partnership Board monitors the waiting times and the support offered by the ND Pathway. We upload this data to SENDLO after each Board meeting, and you can access it in the Local Area SEND Partnership area on SENDLO.
Wirral’s improvement plans
The first priority is to reduce the current waiting times. The NHS created a three-year plan for recovery and improvement. This plan will reduce the long wait times and improve the experience for children and young people on the ND Pathway. You can find more information on this plan in the LASP Board papers for January here [include link to papers].
The Graduated Approach will be used in schools in Wirral. This will help schools to spot any neurodevelopmental needs so support can be put in place as early as possible. Children and young people do not need to have a diagnosis to receive support in school.
A training schedule is set up to ensure all staff in health, education, and care get relevant and current training.
A new Neurodiversity Profiling Tool is being rolled out across Wirral schools. This tool will give children and young people an understanding of where they need extra support. It will also give them an understanding of their strengths and how they can use them. This will help schools and families put support in place at an early stage. You can find out more information about the new profiling tool here [include link to post on SENDLO]
The team at SENDLO are developing a Neurodiversity Hub for the SENDLO website. This will include more details about the pathway as well as a wide range of resources and training. We’ll be keeping you updated on how the hub is going and will let you know when it is live!
Our Local Parent Carer Forum, PCPW, are involved in the improvement plans. The Local Area SEND Partnership Board is keeping track of these plans. This will ensure that services get better for neurodiverse children and young people.
The national standards for assessments and diagnoses
There are national standards for neurodevelopmental assessments. These standards give guidance on how to complete an assessment. They also help with what information to include, and which professionals to involve.
Visit the NICE website for more information on the national standards:
Autism: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg128
ADHD: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
Keep up to date with progress
We'll keep you informed on SENDLO on the work that is taking place to improve the ND Pathway. Keep an eye for new blogs on our news page! You can also subscribe below for a monthly update from SENDLO.