The number of children overdue an assessment of need has risen by nearly 4,000 in the space of nine months. 12,722 children, many with disabilities such as autism, are now waiting for the assessment which determines what services they require.
Andrew Lowth reports: "Children who request an assessment of need are entitled to have one completed within six months under the Disability Act. However the number of children who are overdue is only increasing with the latest figure for September up from 11,131 recorded at the end of June.
"A completed assessment outlines what services a child requires to meet their needs – and would include the likes of occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. Some children are waiting years for such an assessment, with experts saying it can lead to regression."
