How to get an assessment for a child with a disability

Support to meet your child's needs

If your child has a disability, you might be able to get help and support from us. We will assess to see if your child is eligible.

To be eligible for support, children must:

• have a recognised disability which has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to do normal daily activities
• be aged up to 18 years
• live in the Wokingham Borough

We offer different types of assessment based on your child or young person’s needs. We use a graduated response which means we will work with you to identify your family’s needs and the level of support to meet those needs.

Short Breaks and Early Help Team

Sometimes children with disabilities and their families may need more support than universal services can provide. The Short Breaks and Early Help Team wants to make sure you get the help you need as early as possible. Support can include:

• helping you to find services that support children with disabilities to access community based leisure activities
• referring you to the right early help services for your family
• support to get additional help or clubs and activities for children with disabilities
• support in the home to help care for children with a disability

Find out more about short breaks and respite care.

You can ask us for an assessment or a professional who works with you may ask us.

Find out more about the Short Breaks and Early Help Team.

Social care support

The Children with Disabilities Team support children and families who require more specialist support. This may include:

• support in the home to help care for children with a complex disability
• support to access specialist short break resources - this may include overnight support where a need is identified through an assessment
• support to children subject to child protection safeguarding arrangements or looked after by the local authority

Occupational therapy, special equipment and changes to your home

We support children and young people with disabilities to be independent and safe in their home. If we assess your child to be eligible for support, one of our occupational therapists will arrange to visit you. During the visit, they will assess to see which equipment and adaptations could help your child.

What happens next depends on which type of equipment and adaptations you will need and how much they will cost.

Find out more about how you can make changes to your home and specialist equipment.

Occupational therapists also give advice on different techniques of care.

More information about our different services

For more information about all our services, how to access them and how we assess and support, see Children with Disabilities Team.

Request an assessment for a child with a disability

If you think your child may need support, you can ask for an assessment by:

Phone: 0118 908 8002

Email: triage@wokingham.gov.uk

Services you can access without an assessment

As well as universal services available to every child, there are a range of other services your child can access without a social care assessment. Use our SEND Local Offer Directory to find other services to help you and your child.

Search our SEND Local Offer Directory

You can also contact the Children with Additional Needs (CAN) network. They provide advice and support and can put you in touch with services that can help you.

Find out more about the CAN network on the SEND Local Offer Directory.

You can also request support from our specialist services teams without the need for an assessment.

Autism Spectrum Service for Information Support and Training (ASSIST) Team provides support to children and young people with autism, and their families. 

Family Intervention Resources and Support Team provides information and advice about sleep, anxiety and behaviour.

If you disagree with our decision

Assessing a child for disabilities is a complex and personal process. If you disagree with our decision and would like to discuss it further, get in touch with us by email triage@wokingham.gov.uk