Autism assessment in Bristol and South Gloucestershire

If you think your child/young person (CYP) has autism and you are concerned about significant functional impact despite appropriate support:

1. Discuss your concerns with a professional who knows your CYP

This could be your GP, Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) at preschool/school, Health Visitor, School Health Nurse or school link Speech and Language Therapist. Use the links on the right-hand side of this page for more information on each team. 

2. You can use many of the strategies and resources mentioned here without an assessment or a diagnosis

3. A referral can be made for an autism diagnostic assessment.

Further Advice and Support 

Please see the box to the right of this page for some Top Tips from our team, which you can use to support your child or young person.

Here are some other useful places to get advice and support:

• National Autistic Society website www.autism.org.uk
• SEND local offer for Bristol: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/web/bristol-local-offer
• SEND Local Offer for South Gloucestershire: https://www.southglos.gov.uk/local-offer/
• Bristol parent/ carers  www.bristolparentcarers.org.uk
• South Gloucestershire Parent carers  www.sglospc.org.uk 01454 501 009
• Supportive Parents https://www.supportiveparents.org.uk/
• Off the Record (11 years+) for 1:1 or group mental health support https://www.otrbristol.org.uk/
• Free workshops supporting parents who have a child on the Autism Assessment Waiting List run by Bristol Parent Carers, North Somerset Parent Carers Working Together and South Glos Parent Carers. 

Not sure if an assessment is right for you?

If you’re not sure that this is the right step, you could:

• Try out some of our support ideas, and agree to review your CYP’s needs after a few months
• Ask the professional to make a referral to Community Paediatrics to discuss your CYP’s development and your concerns in more detail
• Attend a Speech and Language Therapy drop-in or ask at your child’s Early Years setting or school to find out more

We advocate a needs-led approach to supporting all children with neurodiversity. No child should be disadvantaged by not being able to access an autism diagnostic assessment. Other professionals may be able to help assess the child’s needs, and make recommendations for support based on these needs. This could include any of the following:

• School/Nursery/college – SENCO
• Children’s Centre, Health Visitor or School Health Nurse
• Some children will meet criteria for:
• Community Paediatrics
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Educational Psychology service
• CAMHS or OTR (Off the Record (11 years+) for 1:1 or group mental health support https://www.otrbristol.org.uk/
• Social Care
• Families in Focus/Early Help
• Schools are able to access advice from CAMHS via their allocated Primary Mental Health Specialist (or Infant Mental Health Specialist)