SEND support in Essex: find the council and service responsible
A family in Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea or Grays will not use the same council SEND team. Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock each run their own Local Offer and EHC process.
How support is organised in Essex
Searching for SEND support in Essex often brings all three council systems into the same results. Check the area named on a page before you rely on it. A service for the Essex County Council area may not accept a Southend or Thurrock referral, even though all three places are in Essex.
This boundary question does not prevent a school from acting. If your child is struggling with lessons, attendance, communication or the school environment, ask the teacher or SENCO what support can be put in place now and when it will be reviewed.
The Essex Local Offer serves the Essex County Council area. Southend's information is on Livewell Southend, while Thurrock's Local Offer is on Ask Thurrock. Each site contains its own EHC assessment, social care and preparing-for-adulthood information.
Impartial advice is divided in the same way: Essex SENDIASS for the county council area, SENDIASS Southend for Southend-on-Sea and PATT SENDIASS for Thurrock. Essex Family Forum has a different purpose. It gathers families' experiences to influence services across Essex rather than advising on individual cases.
NHS Essex ICB has covered the whole county since April 2026, including north east and west Essex. Care is still delivered by local trusts and teams, so the ICB boundary does not mean every clinic uses a single county-wide referral route.
The local picture in Essex
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 Essex
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex | 20.1% | England: 46.1%26.0 percentage points below the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Southend-on-Sea | 47% | England: 46.1%0.9 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Thurrock | 35.4% | England: 46.1%10.7 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 Essex
NHS Essex plans NHS services across Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. The March 2026 figures describe recorded suspected-autism referrals across the system, not an individual provider's complete waiting list.
Recorded referrals
1,205
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
71.4%
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%. 18.3 percentage points lower than the England figure.
Share of referrals
At least 19.8%
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%. This is a lower bound because one or more small source cells were suppressed.
Share of referrals
54.1%
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%. 28.6 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.
NHS Essex began on 1 April 2026, so FamilyFX reconciled the final March Sub-ICB rows to the new statutory footprint. The calculation uses source rows 06Q, 06T, 07G, 07H, 99E, 99F, 99G. 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 | 1,205 | 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 | 860 | 1,205 | 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 | 170 | 860 | ASD16a + ASD18 | FamilyFX divided ASD18 by ASD16a and rounded the result to one decimal place. Source counts are published rounded values. Suppressed source cells were excluded, so this is a lower bound. |
| No first care contact recorded | 465 | 860 | 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 statutory footprint from April 2026
NHS England lists NHS Essex Integrated Care Board among the 36 ICBs operating from 1 April 2026. Its footprint covers Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.
Why this matters: The ICB is responsible for planning and commissioning across this wider system. The provider named on a referral remains the practical contact for an individual appointment or waiting-list query.
Read the source from NHS EnglandNHS commissioning and statutory boundaries · published 1 April 2026 · checked 14 August 2026
Where current system information is published
NHS England identifies the ICB website as the current system-level source for NHS Essex.
Why this matters: Use the ICB site for current commissioning, policy and pathway information. For a personal referral update, use the hospital, community service or assessment provider named in the referral correspondence.
Read the source from NHS Essex Integrated Care BoardCurrent NHS system and pathway information · checked 14 August 2026
ADHD referral data for NHS Essex
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: 2,930
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: 2,025
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: 845
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: 1,240
No first contact recorded
Open possible-ADHD referrals without a first care contact in the submitted Mental Health Services Dataset record.
Monthly referrals
Partial: 480
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 displayed subtotal covers the former Mid and South Essex ICB. West Essex and North East Essex are omitted because their March 2026 rows also include areas outside the current Essex footprint and cannot be separated in this file. The displayed figures add the published March 2026 age-band values for predecessor code or codes QH8.
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: 2,930 | 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: 2,025 | 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: 845 | 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: 1,240 | 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: 480 | 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
Essex County Council
Covers Essex County Council area
Use this Local Offer outside the Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock council areas.
Visit websiteSouthend-on-Sea City Council
Covers Southend-on-Sea
Use this council and Local Offer for addresses in Southend-on-Sea.
Visit websiteThurrock Council
Covers Thurrock
Use this council and Local Offer for addresses in Thurrock.
Visit websiteEssex SENDIASS
Covers Essex County Council area
Impartial advice for families and young people in the county council area.
Visit websiteSENDIASS Southend
Covers Southend-on-Sea
Impartial advice for Southend-on-Sea families and young people.
Visit websitePATT SENDIASS
Covers Thurrock
Impartial advice for Thurrock families and young people.
Visit websiteEssex Family Forum
Covers Essex, Southend and Thurrock
A collective parent carer voice forum rather than an individual advice service.
Visit websiteNHS Essex Integrated Care Board
Covers Essex
The current ICB covers the whole county, while service delivery may use smaller local routes.
Visit websiteNHS England
Use current NHS guidance for urgent health or mental health help.
Visit websiteServices and local pathways
Essex SEND Local Offer
Essex County Council
For the Essex County Council area.
Who it is for: Children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND, and their families, in the Essex County Council area.
How to access it: Use the directory and guides, checking the listed areas and access rules for each service.
Check current detailsSouthend SEND Local Offer
Southend-on-Sea City Council
For Southend-on-Sea.
Who it is for: Children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND, and their families, in Southend-on-Sea.
How to access it: Browse the topic pages or attend a current SEND surgery; confirm service criteria before applying.
Check current detailsThurrock SEND Local Offer
Thurrock Council
For Thurrock.
Who it is for: Children and young people with SEND, and their families, in Thurrock.
How to access it: Browse the directory by age or type of support and check current access details.
Check current detailsEssex SENDIASS advice
Essex SENDIASS
Impartial advice for the Essex County Council area.
Who it is for: Children and young people up to 25 with SEND, and their parents or carers, in the Essex County Council area.
How to access it: Contact the service by phone, email or its referral form.
Check current detailsSENDIASS Southend advice
SENDIASS Southend
Impartial advice for Southend-on-Sea.
Who it is for: Children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND, and their parents or carers, in Southend-on-Sea.
How to access it: Contact the service directly and use its current response information when planning follow-up.
Check current detailsPATT SENDIASS advice
PATT SENDIASS
Impartial advice for Thurrock.
Who it is for: Children and young people with SEND, and their parents or carers, in Thurrock.
How to access it: Use the current website to book or contact the service about the education issue you need help with.
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
Use your council's Local Offer rather than the first Essex result returned by a search engine. This matters particularly for EHC assessments, social care and short breaks, where the council receiving the request must be the one responsible for your address.
If a letter is hard to follow or you disagree with an education decision, contact the SENDIASS service for your area. Have the letter to hand and jot down the sequence of events. That gives the adviser something specific to work through with you.
For a health referral, ask which trust or community team now holds it and where updates will come from. Meanwhile, the school should keep responding to the difficulties your child is experiencing there.
Related FamilyFX help
Do you support SEND families in Essex?
If you are part of a charity, parent group, advice service, inclusive activity or another organisation supporting SEND families in Essex, 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.
- Essex Family Forum, checked 14 August 2026
- Essex SEND Local Offer, checked 14 August 2026
- Essex SENDIASS, checked 14 August 2026
- NHS Essex Integrated Care Board, checked 14 August 2026
- NHS: when to use 111, checked 14 August 2026
- PATT SENDIASS, checked 14 August 2026
- SENDIASS Southend, checked 14 August 2026
- Southend SEND Local Offer, checked 14 August 2026
- Thurrock SEND Local Offer, checked 13 August 2026