Fund mandatory neurodevelopmental screening for all children

Screening could take place in primary care, including GP appointments, health visitor reviews, and school entry health at key developmental stages. It should involve early, trauma-informed, and identity-safe screening tools, with clear referral pathways, follow-up support, and outcomes monitored.

We think mandatory neurodevelopmental screening could mean: • Earlier recognition of children who need support • Better outcomes in school, home, and mental health • A shift from crisis response to prevention.

We believe Parliament must act now to protect future generations from preventable harm. Neurodivergent children deserve to be seen — not after a crisis, but from the start.

We know many people, including children and young people, with suspected neurodevelopmental conditions experience severe delays in accessing services, including assessments and support. We want to move to earlier identification and support. The government’s 10 Year Health Plan recognises the need for early intervention and support.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) ADHD guidelines (NG87) recommend that ‘universal screening for ADHD should not be undertaken in nursery, primary and secondary schools’. Evidence underpinning the recommendation concludes that there is little to no effect in introducing a universal screening programme in educational settings on children’s ADHD symptoms. Similarly, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) published a review of screening for autism in pre-school children under the age of five in February 2023. They concluded, based on the available evidence, that ‘the UK NSC does not currently recommend screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in pre-school children under 5 years’, due to concerns about the accuracy of current screening tools and a lack of evidence that children diagnosed through universal screening have better long-term health or social outcomes than those identified through clinical pathways.

We recognise that demand for neurodevelopment assessments has increased significantly in England, which means people of all ages are experiencing delays in accessing the help they need. Through the NHS Medium Term Planning Framework, published 24 October 2025, NHS England has set clear expectations for local integrated care boards and trusts to improve access, experience and outcomes for autism and ADHD services over the next three years, focusing on improving quality and productivity.

The government is currently carefully considering the recommendations made by the report of the independent ADHD taskforce, commissioned by NHS England in 2024. The report recommended improvements in the early identification of neurodivergent children and young people so that personalised support can be implemented to prevent escalating needs. The report is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/report-of-the-independent-adhd-taskforce/

Building on the work of the taskforce, the government is also working to better understand why demand is rising and how to make sure people get the right support at the right time. On 4 December 2025, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care launched an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. This independent review will inform our approach to enabling people with ADHD and autistic people of all ages to have the right support in place to enable them to live well in their communities. The final report will be published in the summer.

Department of Health and Social Care