Wirral leading on new neurodiversity profiling tool for the region

Wirral is an early adopter of the Neurodiversity (ND) Profiling Tool for Cheshire and Merseyside. Currently being rolled out across Wirral schools, it is designed to help parents, teachers, health and care practitioners identify the needs of children and young people with neurodevelopmental differences as early as possible.

Parents, carers and their children meet with practitioners to create a visual document that maps out the child’s needs, assessing nine developmental areas, such as speech and language or motor skills. It then gives them different strategies that can be put in place to help manage those needs and celebrate and tap into strengths in all areas of a child’s life, such as home, school or in the community.

The ND Profiling Tool does not remove or replace the need for a diagnosis. Children and young people will still be able to be referred for a diagnostic assessment, if required, but the tool will help the child get support while they are waiting. 

The profiling tool has been adopted by a number of areas across the country and is showing positive results. Data from Cornwall shows a 60% reduction in referrals for diagnosis assessments following the introduction of the tool. This has had a positive impact on waiting times and improved the experience of children and young people waiting for an assessment.

For some children, the support identified by the tool might be all that is needed. 

Reducing waiting times for children and young people is a priority for Wirral’s Local Area SEND Partnership. Simon Banks, Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:

We are committed as a partnership to improving the experience of children and young people waiting for an assessment. There is an improvement plan in place for this service and, although we recognise that improvements aren’t yet being felt by parents and carers, we will continue to work hard to create a better service for families across the borough.

The Profiling Tool will form part of Wirral’s Graduated Approach,  a way of working that helps to create fully inclusive environments in schools and settings from early years to further education. 

Chair of Wirral Council's Children, Young People and Education Committee, Cllr Stephen Bennett, said:

This is a great opportunity for Wirral to be a leader in the region for helping our neurodiverse children and young people to access and succeed in education. I am looking forward to seeing the results of the pilot as it’s rolled out to more schools and settings.