Diagnosis
Right to Choose for autism and ADHD assessment: how it actually works
Right to Choose is NHS-funded, not private. How it works, the 2026 funding cap reality, the under-18 picture, and the GP conversation that activates it.
Read the guideFree guide · For parents on NHS waiting lists
You're on the NHS waiting list. Here's how to use the wait.
Most families now wait 18 months to 4 years for an NHS autism or ADHD assessment. That wait does not have to be wasted time. This is a practical programme for the months in between: what to document, how to get real school support without a diagnosis, and when a private route is worth it.
The while-you-wait programme
Three things to work on in parallel from the day your referral goes in. You do not have to wait for one to finish before starting the next.
Phase 1Build the evidenceStart a dated record of what you see at home and school. It is the foundation everything else rests on.Jump to this step →Phase 2Get school supportYou do not need a diagnosis for the school to put help in place. Get SEN Support started now.Jump to this step →Phase 3Decide on privateWeigh up Right to Choose and private assessment, and know when each one is worth it.Jump to this step →
Phase 1
What to document while you wait
The single most useful thing you can do during the wait is build evidence. A diagnostic team, a SENDCO, and a local authority all make better, faster decisions when the picture is already written down. Start this week, and keep it simple and specific.
A dated behaviour log
Short, specific entries grouped by theme: sensory, social, communication, repetitive interests, and emotional regulation. Note the date, what happened, and what triggered it. Specific beats general every time.
What school is seeing
Ask the SENDCO (the school's special educational needs coordinator) for their observations in writing, and keep copies of any reports, notes home, or incident logs.
What has been tried, and how it went
If your child is already on SEN Support, keep the school's record of the adjustments they have tried and how well each one worked. Gaps in what has worked are powerful evidence.
A short family history
A few lines on autism, ADHD, or related conditions in close relatives. This is routinely asked for at assessment, so having it ready saves time later.
Every email and letter, in one place
Save GP referral dates, appointment letters, and all correspondence with the school and local authority in a single folder. A clear paper trail is the difference between a strong case and a slow one.
Why it matters. Vague worries are easy to dismiss. A dated, specific record is not. The same notes that support a diagnostic referral also build the case for school support and, if you need it, an EHCP. You are not duplicating work, you are doing it once and using it everywhere. If you already have a report you can't make sense of, our free report decoder will translate it into plain English.
Phase 2
Getting school support without a diagnosis
This is the part most families get wrong, often because the school tells them to wait. You do not need a diagnosis for the school to act. Support and assessment run on separate tracks, and you can push both forward at once.
The key point. Schools must put SEN Support in place based on need, not on a label. The SEND Code of Practice (6.36) is clear that support should start as soon as a child is identified as needing it. The legal test for an EHC needs assessment is whether a child has special educational needs the school cannot meet from its own resources (Children and Families Act 2014, s.20), not whether they have a diagnosis.
What to do, in order
- 1.Ask the school, in writing, to put your child on SEN Support and to set up a plan of adjustments. Email is fine, and it gives you a record. If the school pushes back, read can a school refuse to apply for an EHCP?
- 2.Ask for an Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle and a date to review how the adjustments are working. Bring your evidence diary to that meeting.
- 3.If the school cannot meet your child's needs from its own resources, you can request an EHC needs assessment now, in parallel with the NHS list. You do not have to choose between them.
Got a draft plan already? Our free EHCP draft checker flags where the provision is too vague before you sign anything.
Phase 3
When private assessment makes sense
Going private is a personal decision, and it is not the right answer for everyone. It helps to know the options before you spend anything, because one of the fastest routes is still NHS-funded.
Right to Choose first
In England, Right to Choose lets you ask to be referred to an approved provider, often with a much shorter wait, and it is still funded by the NHS. For many families this is the fastest option and costs nothing. It is worth exploring before paying for a private assessment.
When paying privately is worth it
A private assessment can make sense if the wait is causing real harm now, if you want clarity to inform support at school, or if you have exhausted the NHS-funded routes. Check that the provider follows NICE guidance and that the report will be recognised by your local services, and keep the NHS referral running in parallel in case you need it.
Remember the cost ladder
Private assessments vary widely in price. See how much a private autism assessment costs, then weigh it against the free routes above and against support that does not need a diagnosis at all, like SEN Support and an EHC needs assessment.
And look after yourself, too
A long wait is exhausting, and you cannot keep advocating if you are running on empty. If school avoidance or after-school meltdowns are part of your daily picture, or if you are simply burnt out, the guides below are written for exactly this stage. You can also ask our free SEND assistant anything, any time, and get practical answers and worksheets in seconds.
Where to go next
Everything you need, in one place
The guides, answers and official sources that will carry you through the wait. All free, all kept up to date.
In-depth guides for the wait
Long-form, plain-English guides written and reviewed by SEND specialists. Free to read, no sign-up.
Benefits & finance
DLA for children: how to write the form so you get the right rate
Around half of initial DLA claims for children are refused or underawarded — almost always because of how the form is filled in. Cerebra's guide, the diary week, the specific-examples technique.
Read the guideSchool attendance
EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance): a parent's first-month action plan
A week-by-week first-month plan when anxiety is keeping your child out of school. What to do, when to escalate, and the legal duty schools rarely mention.
Read the guideTransitions
Primary to secondary school transition for SEND children: a 12-month parent plan
The phase-transfer process starts in Year 5, not Year 6. A SENDCO-reviewed 12-month plan with the statutory deadlines, s.39 refusal grounds, and what to push for.
Read the guideDiagnosis
Signs of autism in girls aged 5 to 11: the school-age presentation you might be missing
When school keeps saying she's fine but home tells you otherwise: a UK guide to the school-age masking pattern and what to ask for while you wait.
Read the guideDiagnosis
Telling your child about their autism or ADHD diagnosis
When to tell, by age. The three-component conversation. What not to say. The progressive-disclosure approach NAS and ADHD Foundation advise. UK book and resource list.
Read the guideEHCP
Preparing for your child's Annual Review: a SENDCO's parent guide
The four-week run-up, what to bring, what to push on in the meeting, the three possible LA outcomes, and what to do if you disagree. With statutory deadlines.
Read the guideStrategy
Co-regulation explained: helping your child without taking on their dysregulation
Co-regulation is the developmental process that builds self-regulation. Dan Siegel's window of tolerance, the scripts by state, the long arc from co- to self-regulation.
Read the guideParent wellbeing
SEND parent burnout: recognising it and what actually helps
For SEND parents in deep burnout: under-used statutory routes, the GP language that works, and crisis support if you've had thoughts of self-harm.
Read the guideQuick answers, while you wait
Short, specific answers to the questions parents ask most during the wait, each fact-checked and cited.
EHCP process
Do I need a diagnosis to get an EHCP?
No. You don't need a diagnosis to apply for an EHCP. The legal test is whether your child has special educational needs that the school can't meet from its own resources.
Read the answerDiagnostic pathways
How do I get my child assessed for autism on the NHS?
Start with your GP. Request a referral to the local NHS autism diagnostic service (typically Community Paediatrics or CAMHS, depending on your area and your child's age). Waiting lists in 2026 are typically 1–4 years.
Read the answerDiagnostic pathways
How long is the NHS waiting list for an autism assessment?
For children in 2026, typically 18 months to 4+ years depending on your area. Some regions wait under a year, others over 4. The NHS's 13-week target from referral to first appointment is almost universally missed.
Read the answerDiagnostic pathways
How much does a private autism assessment cost in the UK?
Typically £1,800–£3,500 for a child in the UK as of 2026, depending on whether it's single-clinician or multi-disciplinary. The NHS route is free but waiting times in 2026 are 18 months to 4+ years.
Read the answerDiagnostic pathways
What is Right to Choose for autism and ADHD?
Right to Choose lets adults pick their NHS provider for autism and ADHD assessment. Providers like Psychiatry-UK offer NHS-funded assessment via this route, much faster than local NHS waits (limited for under-18s).
Read the answerEHCP process
Can a school refuse to apply for an EHCP?
Yes, but it doesn't stop you. You can request an EHC needs assessment directly from the council yourself. The school's agreement is not required, and the council must consider your request within 6 weeks.
Read the answerSchool scenarios
What do I do if school says my child doesn't have SEND?
Ask the school to put the decision in writing, with the criteria they used. You can also request an EHC needs assessment directly from the council yourself; school agreement is not required.
Read the answerEHCP process
How do I apply for an EHCP for my child?
Write to your council's SEN team to request an EHC needs assessment. You don't need the school's agreement. The council has 6 weeks to decide and 20 weeks to issue a plan.
Read the answerLaw & statutory guidance
The legislation and official guidance that sets out your rights and your local authority's duties in England.
RESOURCE
TYPE
WHAT IT COVERS
Statutory guidance
The core statutory framework for SEN support, EHC needs assessments, EHCPs, annual reviews and the graduated approach.
Primary legislation
The Act that created EHCPs, the duty to assess, parental rights and the SEND Tribunal route.
Regulations
Detailed rules on assessment timescales, EHCP content, reviews and reassessment.
Primary legislation
Disability discrimination, reasonable adjustments and schools' duties towards disabled pupils.
Departmental guidance
How the Equality Act applies in schools, including reasonable adjustments and exclusions.
Statutory guidance
Suspensions and permanent exclusions, including extra protections for children with SEND.
Statutory guidance
The framework for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Statutory guidance
Schools' duties to support children with medical conditions, including individual healthcare plans.
Official advice & information services
Free, impartial bodies that explain the system and your options — many are funded specifically to support parents.
RESOURCE
TYPE
WHAT IT COVERS
Legal advice charity
Legally based advice on EHC assessments, plans, appeals and exclusions, plus model letters.
Statutory advice service
Free, impartial, confidential SEND information, advice and support in every local authority.
Sector body
Policy, the IASS network and resources on the SEND system and participation.
Government overview
Plain-English overview of help at school, EHC plans, and what to do if you disagree.
Legal information
Education law information on admissions, attendance, exclusions and SEN.
Helpline charity
Independent helpline and advice for parents navigating SEN support and EHCPs.
Parent-led resource
Parent-written, expert-checked guides and flowcharts on the SEND process.
Rights charity
Guidance on disabled children's and young people's rights, benefits and transitions.
Parent carer network
Local parent carer forums that shape services and connect families.
Health, diagnosis & wellbeing
Trusted clinical information. The assistant never diagnoses or gives medical advice — these are where to go for that.
RESOURCE
TYPE
WHAT IT COVERS
Clinical guideline
Evidence-based standards for recognition, referral and support.
Mental health charity
Children's and young people's mental health, plus a parents' helpline.
Specialist charity
Practical, evidence-based help with children's sleep, including SEND-specific advice.
Links to external organisations are provided for information. Remarkable Minds isn't responsible for the content of external sites, and a listing here isn't an endorsement of any specific advice. Always check the date and country of any guidance you rely on.
Don't want to wait alone?
A vetted UK specialist can help you build the evidence, prepare for school meetings, and decide on the right route, often the same week. Your first consultation is free.