SEND support in Bedfordshire: which local service to use
Where you live in Bedfordshire determines which council handles SEND support. Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton each have their own Local Offer, assessment team and advice service.
How support is organised in Bedfordshire
A Bedford address, a Dunstable address and a Luton address can lead to three different council teams. Before filling in a form or contacting a service, check which council covers your home. This is the simplest way to avoid an enquiry being passed elsewhere.
At nursery, school or college, support does not have to wait for a diagnosis or council assessment. Tell the teacher or SENCO what your child is finding difficult, ask what will change and agree when you will look together at whether it has helped.
Bedford Local Offer serves families whose address comes under Bedford Borough Council. Central Bedfordshire's Local Offer covers places including Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Biggleswade and Sandy. Families in Luton use Luton Council's separate Local Offer and SEND team.
The advice services follow the same boundaries. Bedford SENDIASS, Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS and Luton SENDIAS each offer free, impartial help in their own council area. They can explain a letter, help you prepare for a meeting or talk through your options when you disagree with a decision.
Health boundaries are different again. NHS Central East ICB covers Bedfordshire as part of a region extending into Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Hertfordshire. An assessment or therapy team may serve a smaller area, so the useful question is which provider has received the referral.
The local picture in Bedfordshire
This section maps the current health bodies serving this area and, where a comparable official measure is available, presents it alongside the national figure. It is not a rating of the area or the quality of an individual service.
Health
NHS commissioning for Bedfordshire
Integrated care boards, usually shortened to ICBs, plan and pay for many NHS services in England. They do not necessarily deliver an assessment or treatment themselves, and some pathways work across more than one area.
education
EHC plans issued within 20 weeks
The percentage of new EHC plans issued within the statutory 20-week period during 2025, excluding cases where permitted exceptions applied.
| Council | Local figure | England comparison | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | 94.3% | England: 46.1%48.2 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Central Bedfordshire | 56.3% | England: 46.1%10.2 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Luton | 29.1% | England: 46.1%17.0 percentage points below the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
How to read this indicator
The Department for Education calculates this measure from the mandatory SEN2 return. FamilyFX presents each responsible council separately and compares its published percentage with the England figure for the same period and definition.
Timeliness describes one part of the EHC plan process. It does not show the quality of a plan, whether support was suitable or what an individual family experienced. A high percentage can also be based on a relatively small number of plans.
Source: Department for Education, checked 14 August 2026. Update frequency: annual.
Autism referral data for NHS Central East
Central East became one ICB on 1 April 2026, but that did not turn every assessment route into one regional pathway overnight. Its own policy page says legacy local policies continue while the new organisation works through harmonisation. The March data therefore describes the current footprint immediately before the new ICB formally began, not performance since the merger.
Recorded referrals
10,925
Open suspected-autism referrals
People whose suspected-autism referral was recorded as open at some point in March 2026.
A count shows scale, not comparative performance.
Share of referrals
85.1%
Open for at least 13 weeks
The share of recorded open suspected-autism referrals that had been open for 13 weeks or longer.
England: 89.7%. 4.6 percentage points lower than the England figure.
Share of referrals
5.1%
First contact within 13 weeks
Among referrals open for at least 13 weeks, the share with a first attended care contact recorded within 13 weeks of referral.
England: 3.7%. 1.4 percentage points higher than the England figure.
Share of referrals
72.7%
No first care contact recorded
Among referrals open for at least 13 weeks, the share without a first care contact recorded in the dataset.
England: 82.7%. 10.0 percentage points lower than the England figure.
What these figures mean
A system signal, not a waiting-time promise
The NHS England measures follow suspected-autism referrals from the referral date to the first attended care contact recorded in the Mental Health Services Dataset. FamilyFX preserves the published counts, shows the numerator and denominator behind each derived percentage, and compares only measures with the same definition and reporting month.
FamilyFX summed the four March 2026 Sub-ICB rows that NHS England labels as NHS Central East ICB: 06H, 06K, 06N and M1J4Y. Published counts are rounded, so derived percentages are approximate.
Important limitation
This dataset is incomplete by design
These are official statistics in development, not a complete autism waiting list. Most child autism assessments take place in community paediatric services whose activity cannot yet be identified in the Community Services Dataset. March 2026 data from Psychiatry UK was incomplete, and a missing care-contact date can mean a contact was not submitted, the person was still waiting, or the referral closed without a first appointment. The figures should not be used to rate an ICB or predict an individual wait.
Show the calculation behind each figure
| Measure | Numerator | Denominator | NHS codes | Calculation note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open suspected-autism referrals | 10,925 | Not applicable | ASD16 | The published count is retained without a population comparison because it describes system scale, not comparative performance. |
| Open for at least 13 weeks | 9,300 | 10,925 | ASD16 + ASD16a | FamilyFX divided ASD16a by ASD16 and rounded the result to one decimal place. Source counts are published rounded values. |
| First contact within 13 weeks | 475 | 9,300 | ASD16a + ASD18 | FamilyFX divided ASD18 by ASD16a and rounded the result to one decimal place. Source counts are published rounded values. |
| No first care contact recorded | 6,765 | 9,300 | ASD16a + ASD18b | FamilyFX divided ASD18b by ASD16a and rounded the result to one decimal place. A missing contact is not the same as a confirmed wait. |
What has changed, and what it means for families
A new ICB with a much wider footprint
NHS England records that six new ICBs were established on 1 April 2026. Central East now covers five counties and the cities of Luton, Milton Keynes and Peterborough.
Why this matters: The ICB name identifies the commissioner. A referral letter or provider page is still the better source for the team holding an individual referral.
Read the source from NHS EnglandAll NHS services · published 1 April 2026 · checked 14 August 2026
Legacy local policies still matter
Central East says policies and pathways inherited from its predecessor ICBs continue to apply in their former areas until a replacement policy is adopted.
Why this matters: Families should use the current route for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, or Hertfordshire rather than assume there is already one Central East process.
Read the source from NHS Central East Integrated Care BoardClinical policies and pathways · published 27 April 2026 · checked 14 August 2026
ADHD referral data for NHS Central East
NHS England now publishes ICB-level management information about referrals that may relate to ADHD assessment. These figures add useful scale and waiting-band context, but they are not a confirmed ADHD waiting list.
Read this first
These are referrals that may be for an ADHD assessment. They are not confirmed diagnoses and should not be read as an exact local ADHD waiting list.
Open referrals
Partial: 18,940
Possible ADHD referrals still open
Open mental-health referrals recorded under neurodevelopmental conditions excluding autism, including referrals that have already had a first contact.
Open referrals
Partial: 16,185
Open for more than 13 weeks
Possible ADHD referrals recorded in the three published bands above 13 weeks. This describes referral age, not a promised assessment date.
Open referrals
Partial: 11,115
Open for more than 52 weeks
Possible ADHD referrals recorded in the 52-to-104-week and 104-weeks-or-more bands.
Open referrals
Partial: 12,400
No first contact recorded
Open possible-ADHD referrals without a first care contact in the submitted Mental Health Services Dataset record.
Monthly referrals
Partial: 1,450
New possible referrals in March
Possible ADHD referrals newly recorded during March 2026. It is a monthly flow measure rather than a waiting-list total.
Possible open referrals by recorded age
Each bar uses ADHD003 for the same reporting month. Bar lengths compare age groups within this displayed footprint only.
People aged 0 to 4
People aged 5 to 17
People aged 18 to 24
People aged 25+
Age not recorded in the source row
How the figures were built
A traceable system signal
Measures ADHD003 to ADHD007 come from the Mental Health Services Dataset. NHS England identifies referrals whose primary reason is recorded as neurodevelopmental conditions excluding autism, then publishes their status and time bands by age. FamilyFX keeps the official definitions, source codes and reporting month visible and does not combine the figures into a score or rank.
The published ICB file can safely combine Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Hertfordshire is omitted because its March 2026 row also includes West Essex, which moved to a different current ICB and cannot be separated in this file. The displayed figures add the published March 2026 age-band values for predecessor code or codes QHG + QUE.
Important limitation
The publication is still developing
The referral category can include conditions other than ADHD, while some ADHD pathways, Right to Choose providers and independent providers do not submit complete data. An open referral may also remain open after assessment because medication reviews or continuing care are still managed by the provider. The figures therefore cannot give an exact ADHD waiting list, a diagnosis count or an individual waiting-time estimate.
Show the NHS measures behind these figures
| Measure | Displayed value | NHS codes | Calculation note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possible ADHD referrals still open | Partial: 18,940 | ADHD003 | This is a lower-bound subtotal. Small source cells may be suppressed, or a 2026 boundary change may prevent part of the current footprint being separated from a predecessor ICB row. |
| Open for more than 13 weeks | Partial: 16,185 | ADHD003b + ADHD003c + ADHD003d | This is a lower-bound subtotal. Small source cells may be suppressed, or a 2026 boundary change may prevent part of the current footprint being separated from a predecessor ICB row. |
| Open for more than 52 weeks | Partial: 11,115 | ADHD003c + ADHD003d | This is a lower-bound subtotal. Small source cells may be suppressed, or a 2026 boundary change may prevent part of the current footprint being separated from a predecessor ICB row. |
| No first contact recorded | Partial: 12,400 | ADHD004 | This is a lower-bound subtotal. Small source cells may be suppressed, or a 2026 boundary change may prevent part of the current footprint being separated from a predecessor ICB row. |
| New possible referrals in March | Partial: 1,450 | ADHD007 | This is a lower-bound subtotal. Small source cells may be suppressed, or a 2026 boundary change may prevent part of the current footprint being separated from a predecessor ICB row. |
Urgent help
Urgent health and mental health help in England
Use NHS 111 when you need urgent help but it is not a life-threatening emergency. Call 999 in an emergency.
Visit Urgent health and mental health help in EnglandLocal organisations and advice
Bedford Borough Council
Covers Bedford Borough
Use this council and Local Offer for addresses in Bedford Borough.
Visit websiteCentral Bedfordshire Council
Covers Central Bedfordshire
Use this council and Local Offer for addresses in Central Bedfordshire.
Visit websiteLuton Council
Covers Luton
Use this council and Local Offer for addresses in Luton.
Visit websiteBedford SENDIASS
Covers Bedford Borough
Impartial advice for Bedford Borough families and young people.
Visit websiteCentral Bedfordshire SENDIASS
Covers Central Bedfordshire
Impartial advice for Central Bedfordshire families and young people.
Visit websiteLuton SENDIAS
Covers Luton
Impartial advice for Luton families and young people.
Visit websiteNHS Central East Integrated Care Board
Covers Bedfordshire, Luton and wider Central East
The ICB footprint is much wider than the county and local delivery routes may be smaller.
Visit websiteNHS England
Use current NHS guidance for urgent health or mental health help.
Visit websiteServices and local pathways
Bedford Local Offer
Bedford Borough Council
For Bedford Borough addresses.
Who it is for: Children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND, and their families, in Bedford Borough.
How to access it: Browse by age or support need and check the access details for the service you choose.
Check current detailsCentral Bedfordshire SEND Local Offer
Central Bedfordshire Council
For Central Bedfordshire addresses.
Who it is for: Children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND, and their families, in Central Bedfordshire.
How to access it: Choose the section that matches the immediate need and check any referral or eligibility rules.
Check current detailsLuton SEND Local Offer
Luton Council
For Luton addresses.
Who it is for: Children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND, and their families, in Luton.
How to access it: Use the Luton directory and confirm the current service access arrangements before applying.
Check current detailsBedford SENDIASS advice
Bedford SENDIASS
Impartial advice for Bedford Borough.
Who it is for: Children and young people with SEND, and their parents or carers, in Bedford Borough.
How to access it: Use the official page for current contact arrangements and explain the decision or process you need help with.
Check current detailsCentral Bedfordshire SENDIASS advice
Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS
Impartial advice for Central Bedfordshire.
Who it is for: Children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND, and their parents or carers, in Central Bedfordshire.
How to access it: Contact the service directly by its current telephone, email or online route.
Check current detailsLuton SENDIAS advice
Luton SENDIAS
Impartial advice for Luton.
Who it is for: Children and young people with SEND, and their parents or carers, in Luton.
How to access it: Use the directory page for the current contact form, email and response information.
Check current detailsADHD assessment choices in England
If a GP is making an elective referral for an ADHD assessment in England, you may have a legal right to choose a clinically appropriate provider that holds a qualifying NHS Standard Contract. The referrer still decides whether the referral and provider are clinically appropriate, and the rules do not apply in every situation.
NHS England explains the underlying patient-choice rules. ADHD UK also publishes an ICB finder with local information gathered about ADHD assessment routes and waiting times. Its information is independent of the NHS, so check the current position with your GP and the relevant NHS organisation before relying on it for a referral.
Practical next steps
If you are unsure which council covers your home, check this before doing anything else. Then use that council's Local Offer to find the relevant section, whether the question concerns an EHC plan, social care, short breaks, travel or preparing for adulthood.
For a school concern, ask for four things to be written down: what your child needs, what support will be tried, who will arrange it and when it will be reviewed. The appropriate SENDIASS or SENDIAS service can help if the answer is unclear or a decision does not make sense.
If a health referral has been made, ask for the provider's name and how that team sends updates. School support should continue in the meantime because it responds to your child's needs in education, not to the progress of a clinical assessment.
Related FamilyFX help
Do you support SEND families in Bedfordshire?
If you are part of a charity, parent group, advice service, inclusive activity or another organisation supporting SEND families in Bedfordshire, we would like to hear from you. Send us your website, the area you cover, who the service is for and how families can get in touch. We check submissions before deciding whether to add them.
Send us your detailsSources and checking dates
Local services change. We check the sources below and review any substantive change before altering the page.
- Bedford Local Offer, checked 13 August 2026
- Bedford SENDIASS, checked 13 August 2026
- Central Bedfordshire SEND Local Offer, checked 13 August 2026
- Central Bedfordshire SENDIASS, checked 14 August 2026
- Luton SEND Local Offer, checked 13 August 2026
- Luton SENDIAS, checked 13 August 2026
- NHS Central East Integrated Care Board, checked 14 August 2026
- NHS: when to use 111, checked 14 August 2026