9th October 2026 • My Family Our Needs

Families in England have been promised earlier access to support, alongside stronger oversight of autism and ADHD assessments, following an independent review.

Children and young people with autism, ADHD or mental health needs should receive help based on their needs, without having to wait for a clinical diagnosis, the Government has pledged.

The announcement, made on 9 October, follows the publication of an independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism.

For SEND families facing long waits for assessments and support, the proposed changes could mean earlier access to help through schools, colleges and community services, alongside continued access to diagnosis and specialist care.

However, further details of how the reforms will be delivered are expected in the Government’s forthcoming Mental Health Strategy.

The review found that mental distress has increased substantially among children and young people. It identified factors including financial insecurity, social media, poorer sleep, uncertainty about the future and reduced feelings of connection and belonging.

It also found that, although referrals and diagnoses for autism and ADHD have risen significantly, the proportion of the population with these conditions appears broadly stable.

A central recommendation is that people should be able to access support without a diagnosis being the only route to help. However, the review also stressed that access to diagnosis must be protected.

Professor Fonagy said, “Diagnosis remains essential and must be protected – what has to change is that it is no longer the only door through which help can be reached.”

The Government said timely diagnosis and treatment would continue to be offered where clinically appropriate, including when someone may need medication.

For families, the distinction matters: earlier help is intended to sit alongside access to assessment and specialist care.

As part of its response, the Government highlighted plans to roll out Mental Health Support Teams to every school and college by 2029, alongside a £7 million investment in Early Support Hubs in 2026/27.

It also pointed to its £4 billion package of SEND support. This includes £1.8 billion over three years for the new Experts at Hand offer, intended to widen access to speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and other specialists in mainstream schools, early years settings and colleges.

Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper has asked NHS leaders to examine urgently how people can access advice, assessments and treatment more easily.

The announcement also includes proposals to strengthen oversight of autism and ADHD assessment services.

The Government will work with NHS England and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) towards making all diagnostic assessments for autism and ADHD a CQC-regulated activity. The planned changes would cover NHS-funded assessments and those paid for privately.

NHS England will also consult on a national set of prices for NHS-funded autism and ADHD services, covering assessment, support after diagnosis and follow-up appointments. It intends to introduce the new payment arrangements from April 2027.

Meanwhile, the Government will ask the Advertising Standards Authority to consider concerns about advertising for autism and ADHD services. Although the review recommends banning direct-to-public advertising of NHS-funded assessments, the Government’s announcement commits to reviewing advertising practices.

Charities welcomed the focus on earlier support but called for the recommendations to lead to practical improvements for children and families.

Barnardo’s chief executive Lynn Perry highlighted how poverty, insecure housing, SEND and other pressures can overlap, while families face a complicated and divided system. She called for an action plan with clear measures to hold services accountable.

Responding on behalf of the Future Minds campaign, Centre for Mental Health chief executive Andy Bell said: “It is also essential that autistic people and people with ADHD are able to get the support they need, including with mental health, without delay or denial of their needs.”

For parents and carers, the key question will be how these commitments translate into accessible local help, shorter waits and continued access to specialist support. Further action is expected in the Mental Health Strategy later this year.

In other news, Surrey Choices is delivering a Supported Internship programme to support young people with additional needs who are not in education, employment and training (NEET).