Editorial correction, 22 September 2026: Removed a contradictory claim that a private report alone establishes exam arrangements, unverified typical prices and diagnosis-led school-support claims. Clarified evidence, assessor checks and the separate EHC assessment test. This is an AI-assisted source review, not professional sign-off.
Correction, 7 September 2026: Clarified professional registration, the use of private assessment reports and the needs-based rules for school support. A private diagnosis does not guarantee an EHCP, exam arrangements or NHS prescribing. About this source review.
1. What Is ADHD and How Is It Diagnosed in Children?
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition involving attention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. Similar difficulties can have different causes, so a symptom list cannot diagnose a child.
NICE guideline NG87 recommends a full specialist assessment. The person diagnosing ADHD should be a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional with specific ADHD diagnostic training and expertise. There are three recognised presentations:
- Predominantly inattentive: Difficulty sustaining focus, easily distracted, forgetful, loses things, struggles to follow instructions through
- Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive: Fidgety, difficulty sitting still, acts without thinking, interrupts, difficulty waiting
- Combined presentation: Both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive features
2. The NHS Pathway in Kent
In Kent, ADHD assessments for children are typically carried out through one of two NHS routes:
Kent and Medway children and young people's service
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust now runs the ADHD assessment service that transferred from NELFT on 1 April 2026. Use its current ADHD assessment page for criteria and contacts. Ask what stage any quoted wait covers rather than relying on a countywide number.
Community paediatrics
Referral routes vary. Community paediatrics may be involved for some children, depending on age, area, presentation and local criteria. Ask the referrer which service is responsible and what stage any current wait estimate covers.
Right to Choose
England's NHS patient-choice rules may apply to some first outpatient referrals, subject to the service, contract and exclusions. Ask the GP: "Does this referral qualify for patient choice, which providers are currently commissioned, and what does each pathway cover?" Check current provider waits directly; an alternative route does not guarantee a shorter wait.
3. Private ADHD Assessment — Is It Worth It?
Given NHS waiting times, many Kent families are weighing up private assessment. Here is an honest breakdown:
What does a private ADHD assessment cost?
We do not have a verified current Kent-wide price range. Ask for an itemised quote and confirm what is included before paying. Clarify the scope of:
- Clinical interview with parent and child
- Standardised rating scales (completed by parents and school)
- Observations or cognitive testing (varies by provider)
- Written report with diagnosis (or exclusion of diagnosis) and recommendations
How can a private assessment report be used?
A private report can contribute evidence about a child’s needs. Before paying, ask the organisation that will use it what assessment method, professional qualifications and evidence it requires. A report does not automatically secure an EHCP, an exam adjustment or NHS prescribing. The receiving organisation may assess its relevance and ask for further evidence.
School SEN support should respond to identified needs while assessment is pending. For exams, discuss the current requirements and the child’s usual way of working with the SENCO; a diagnostic label alone does not establish an entitlement to extra time. Current JCQ access-arrangement guidance.
The medication caveat
One important limitation: the NHS may not prescribe ADHD medication solely on the basis of a private diagnosis. "Shared care" arrangements — where the GP prescribes medication recommended by a private clinician — depend on the clinician and local NHS arrangements. Ask the private provider upfront about their approach to medication and shared care, particularly in Kent. Educational and clinical decisions each use their own criteria.
What to look for in a private assessor
- Appropriate professional qualifications, relevant registration and specific training and expertise in ADHD diagnosis. NICE describes assessment by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional with that expertise. Membership of a professional society alone does not establish this. NICE diagnostic guidance.
- Specific experience assessing children (not just adults)
- A written report that includes specific, actionable recommendations for school
- Willingness to liaise with school or the LA if needed
Our psychology directory can help you prepare enquiries. The ADHD Centre listing covers services advertised to Kent families; confirm appointment location, child eligibility and the named assessor's qualifications directly. A listing is not an endorsement.
4. What Changes at School After a Diagnosis?
A diagnosis can help explain needs, but it does not specify the support a child should receive. Discuss actual difficulties and useful changes with the SENCO, including while assessment is pending.
Reasonable adjustments (Equality Act 2010)
Under the Equality Act disability definition, the effect of an impairment matters: it must have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities. A diagnostic label does not by itself settle that test. Schools have reasonable-adjustment duties towards disabled pupils; discuss the disadvantage and the adjustment needed, and seek advice about your circumstances.
Depending on the child's needs, options to discuss include:
- Movement breaks during lessons
- Preferential seating away from distractions (near the front, away from doors or windows)
- Instructions broken into smaller steps, with written prompts
- Reduced written tasks or alternative recording methods (typing, voice recording)
- Appropriate support in timed tasks; formal exam arrangements have separate evidence requirements
- A key adult the child can go to when overwhelmed
- Flexibility with transitions and change of activity
SEN Support
Ask the school to identify your child's special educational needs, plan support and review its effect with you. A diagnosis is not a prerequisite for SEN Support. Read our SEN Support guide for the assess–plan–do–review process and questions for the SENCO. An EHC needs assessment is a separate process.
Exam access arrangements
A private diagnostic report does not by itself establish entitlement to extra time or another arrangement. Discuss the child's usual way of working and evidence of need with the SENCO and exams officer before buying a report for this purpose. Ask which rules and evidence apply to the qualification and exam series, including any school–assessor liaison needed. Use JCQ's published guidance; the publicly linked interactive document at this review still displayed 2025/26, so confirm the current edition with the centre.
5. ADHD and EHCPs
A diagnosis does not guarantee or rule out an EHC needs assessment or a plan. In England, section 36(8) asks whether a child has or may have special educational needs and whether provision through an EHC plan may be necessary. The decision to issue a plan after assessment is separate.
What evidence could help explain the needs?
Describe relevant difficulties and existing support. For example, you may need to explain:
- The child's ADHD significantly affects their ability to access the curriculum, despite SEN Support
- There are co-occurring needs (autism, dyslexia, anxiety, or developmental language disorder) that compound the impact
- The child is experiencing school refusal or exclusions linked to ADHD-related behaviour
- The child needs specialist input (educational psychologist, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy) that the school cannot fund from its own budget
- A specialist school or enhanced mainstream resource base would better meet the child's needs
How to apply
Use Kent County Council's current online EHC needs assessment request. Parents can request an assessment directly; include relevant school and clinical reports and describe the child's needs and the support already tried. IASK can help on 03000 41 3000.
Use our free request letter as a starting point, then edit it to reflect your child's needs and your own evidence.
Get the free template →Under the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Regulations, an EHC needs assessment and plan process is usually completed within 20 weeks where a plan is issued, subject to statutory exceptions. A refusal to assess carries a right of appeal. Check the decision letter and current GOV.UK route and deadlines; outcome statistics do not predict an individual case.
6. Kent-Specific Resources
Free, impartial advice for families of children with SEND in Kent — including ADHD. Can attend school meetings and help with EHCP applications. Call: 03000 41 3000
The provider advertises online ADHD services to Kent families and in-person clinics in London and Manchester. A Kent clinic has not been confirmed. Check age criteria, location and costs in our ADHD Centre listing →
Free legally based SEND information and advice. Call-in helpline: 0300 222 5899 (check current opening times on IPSEA’s website). Pre-booked Advice and Tribunal Helplines are arranged through IPSEA's website.
Charity providing information and advice for families of disabled children. Check its current helpline arrangements and available support. Helpline: 0808 808 3555
KCC's directory of SEND services. Use it to search for ADHD-related support groups and services in your area of Kent.
Use our directory to prepare enquiries about assessment and support. Check the named practitioner's registration, ADHD expertise, child age range and current appointment location directly.
Browse Kent psychologists → Free EHCP template →7. Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the ADHD assessment waiting list for children in Kent?
There is no substantiated single current Kent wait. It varies by the responsible service, age, referral route and stage. Use the current Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust ADHD page or ask the referrer for the estimate that applies, and ask your GP whether an eligible Right to Choose route exists.
Is a private ADHD assessment valid for school support and an EHCP?
A properly prepared private report can contribute evidence, but it does not automatically determine a school, EHCP or NHS decision. Check the assessor’s relevant registration and ADHD expertise, and ask the intended recipient what it requires before paying. Support should respond to identified needs; a diagnosis is not a prerequisite for requesting school SEN support or an EHC needs assessment.
Does my child need an ADHD diagnosis to get an EHCP?
No. Under the Children and Families Act 2014, an EHCP is based on need, not diagnosis. A child with significant ADHD-related difficulties — with attention, impulsivity, emotional regulation, or learning — may qualify for an EHCP regardless of whether a formal diagnosis has been made. A diagnosis can explain some needs, but the statutory decision depends on the individual evidence and relevant legal tests.
What school adjustments should my child receive for ADHD?
Schools must make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils under the Equality Act 2010. Depending on the child’s needs and the setting, options to discuss include: movement breaks, preferential seating (away from distractions), reduced written tasks or alternative recording methods, extended time on tests, breaking instructions into smaller steps, and a key adult the child can go to when overwhelmed. Discuss the child’s actual difficulties and the adjustments that would address them; a diagnosis does not itself specify which adjustments must be made. Exam arrangements have their own evidence requirements.
What is the Right to Choose and how does it work for ADHD in Kent?
For an in-scope, clinically appropriate first outpatient referral in England, a patient may be able to choose an eligible provider that holds the required NHS contract. Autism and ADHD services delivered remotely may be in scope, but exclusions, age criteria, clinical suitability, provider contracts and open-list status all matter. Ask the GP and the responsible NHS service whether the right applies to this particular referral, then obtain a current wait estimate directly from any eligible provider.
Related Guides
The complete EHCP guide for Kent parents
PDA and EHCP KentGetting the right support for PDA
The ADHD CentreServices advertised to Kent families; check location
Psychologists in KentExplore psychology listings and check suitability
Free EHCP TemplateFree request letter for Kent parents
Check IPSEA’s current helpline arrangements · checked 7 September 2026.