Autism Assessment in Kent — NHS Wait Times, Right to Choose & Private Options

Current NHS Pathways and Published Waits in Kent

• KCHFT Community Paediatrics: accepts autism referrals up to age 11 in west and north Kent and up to age 8 in south and east Kent. Its paediatric timelines reports an average 8-month wait for an initial appointment, with some waits up to 14 months. Where further autism assessment is needed, the pathway diagrams show a decision at 24 months on a single-professional route and 56 months on a joint route.
• Conflicting KCHFT publication: a separate KCHFT autism page still says 36–42 months for children needing a full assessment. Do not add these figures together; ask KCHFT which measure applies to the child's current stage.
• Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust: now runs the children and young people's autism/ADHD services that transferred from NELFT on 1 April 2026. Use its current autism assessment page for referral criteria and contacts; ask what stage any wait estimate covers.

Medway, Swale and some referral arrangements differ. Use the current service information or ask the professional making the referral. School support, mental-health support and DLA eligibility are needs-led and should not be presented as depending on a diagnostic label.

Your Options Compared

*Check clinician registration, assessment method and the requirements of the NHS service, school or statutory process in which you intend to use the report.

Option 1: Right to Choose

You may be able to ask for an eligible NHS-funded provider for a clinically appropriate first outpatient referral. It is not a choice of any private provider, and current eligibility, contracts and waiting times must be checked.

How it works:

1. Ask your GP for a referral under "Right to Choose"
2. They'll ask which provider you want — have 2-3 ready
3. GP sends referral to the provider
4. Assessment is NHS-funded (free to you)

Check the current provider route

Do not rely on a copied provider list: contracts, referral forms, age criteria and open/closed lists change. Start with the current NHS Kent and Medway Right to Choose information, then confirm eligibility and waiting information with the referrer and provider.

Option 2: Fully Private Assessment

A private provider may offer an earlier appointment, but timing and scope vary. Confirm the full route from booking to completed report, which professionals are involved, their current registration, safeguarding and complaints arrangements, and what follow-up is included.

Provider availability and prices change. See the private autism assessment guide for due-diligence questions, and obtain a current written quote directly before paying.

Financing options:

• Ask whether the provider offers a payment plan and read the credit, cancellation and refund terms before agreeing
• Check private medical insurance directly, including authorisation, exclusions and excess
• Do not assume a charity grant will cover a diagnostic assessment unless the funder confirms that purpose in writing

What to Do While Waiting

Whether you're on the NHS waitlist or saving for private, here's how to support your child now:

1. Request School Support

Schools must support children with SEN regardless of diagnosis. Request a meeting with the SENCO and ask for:

• SEN Support plan
• One-page profile for staff
• TA support if available

2. Build Your Evidence

Keep a diary of:

• Behaviours at home
• Sensory needs
• Social communication difficulties
• Any interventions you've tried

This helps any future assessment and DLA/EHCP applications.

3. Access Free Support

• Kent Local Offer — kent.gov.uk
• Kent Autistic Trust — check its current community-support services and eligibility
• SENDIASS Kent — impartial advice — 03000 41 3000

4. Private SALT/OT While Waiting

Therapy referral criteria and waits vary. Ask the responsible NHS service what support is available, and verify private clinicians' current registration, scope, fees and safeguarding arrangements before paying. See our therapist directory for leads, not endorsements.

5. Apply for DLA Now

You do not need a diagnosis to apply for Disability Living Allowance. DLA is based on the child's qualifying care and mobility needs compared with a child of the same age. The maximum combined 2026/27 rate is £194.60 a week, but the award depends on the statutory tests—not a diagnosis or calculator score.

What to Expect During an Autism Assessment

NICE recommends a competent multidisciplinary assessment drawing on several sources. Exact tools and appointments vary; ask how the service covers the following areas.

Before the Assessment

• Developmental history: information about early development, current strengths and needs, family concerns and relevant medical history.
• Information across settings: school, college or another setting may be asked for observations or records where appropriate.
• Coexisting conditions and differential diagnoses: the team should consider whether other assessment or clinical input is needed.

During the Assessment

• Direct observation and clinical assessment: a service may use validated tools such as ADOS-2 or ADI-R, but NICE says tools must not be used alone to make a diagnosis.
• Multidisciplinary judgement: ask who contributes, how conflicting information is resolved and how the child's own views are included.
• Additional assessment: cognitive, language, medical or other assessment should be based on the individual question, not sold as automatically necessary for an EHCP.

After the Assessment

• Report and feedback: ask what written findings and needs profile are provided, who receives them, and the provider's current target date. There is no reliable universal private or NHS turnaround.
• Diagnosis or no diagnosis: Not every assessment results in a diagnosis. Some children are assessed as "not meeting criteria" — this doesn't mean they don't need support. The report recommendations are valuable regardless.
• Next steps: If diagnosed, read our First 100 Days guide for what to do next.

What Happens After Diagnosis

A diagnosis can help explain needs, but most education, benefits and care support depends on functional needs and the relevant eligibility test. Useful next steps include:

1. Check DLA eligibility — diagnosis is not enough; DWP looks at extra care and mobility needs compared with a non-disabled child of the same age. Full DLA guide →
2. Inform school and request a SEN Support meeting — support should be based on identified needs, with or without a diagnosis
3. Consider an EHC needs assessment request where appropriate — a report may be relevant evidence, but the local authority must apply the statutory test. EHCP guide →
4. Check Carer's Allowance eligibility — middle or highest-rate DLA care is one condition; the carer must also meet the 35-hour, earnings, study and other rules. The 2026/27 rate is £86.45 a week, but interactions with other benefits can change the net effect. Carer's Allowance guide →
5. Connect with other parents — Kent PACT, relevant local groups and carefully moderated online communities may provide peer support
6. Find therapists if needed — browse our Kent SEND directory for speech therapists, OTs, and educational psychologists

For a complete roadmap, read our First 100 Days After Diagnosis guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

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