SEND support across Greater Manchester: find the right local route
Greater Manchester has shared transport and health bodies, but SEND Local Offers and EHC processes are run by ten separate councils. Your borough is the key to finding the correct education route.
How support is organised in Greater Manchester
A search for Greater Manchester SEND support can make the system look more unified than it is. Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan each publish their own Local Offer and manage their own EHC needs assessment process.
Start with the borough where your child lives or is ordinarily resident, then check whether a particular service uses a different boundary. A school may be in one borough while a health pathway follows the GP or NHS area.
The ten councils are responsible for their own Local Offers, education decision-making and local social care. Greater Manchester Combined Authority works across the city-region on selected shared priorities, but it is not a substitute for the relevant council's SEND team.
NHS Greater Manchester plans and coordinates health services across the city-region. Its children's autism and ADHD assessment arrangements are changing during 2026, so families should check the current NHS page and the locally delivered route rather than rely on an older referral description.
Transport for Greater Manchester runs the Bee Network and publishes accessibility and disabled travel information. Eligibility for a concessionary pass and arrangements for school travel are separate questions, and school transport remains council-specific.
The local picture in Greater Manchester
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 Greater Manchester
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton | 86% | England: 46.1%39.9 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Bury | 98.1% | England: 46.1%52.0 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Manchester | 74.2% | England: 46.1%28.1 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Oldham | 76.9% | England: 46.1%30.8 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Rochdale | 49.3% | England: 46.1%3.2 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Salford | 54.9% | England: 46.1%8.8 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Stockport | 18.1% | England: 46.1%28.0 percentage points below the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Tameside | 30.3% | England: 46.1%15.8 percentage points below the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Trafford | 47.4% | England: 46.1%1.3 percentage points above the England figure | 2025 calendar year |
| Wigan | 21.9% | England: 46.1%24.2 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 Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester publishes more detail than many systems about its 2026 autism and ADHD pathway changes. Its current page says non-urgent bookings are being scheduled more gradually and clinical need affects priority, while existing referrals keep their original referral date. That live position matters alongside the March data snapshot.
Recorded referrals
16,115
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
92.4%
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%. 2.7 percentage points higher than the England figure.
Share of referrals
2.5%
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%. 1.2 percentage points lower than the England figure.
Share of referrals
90.8%
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%. 8.1 percentage points higher 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.
The values come from the published March 2026 NHS Greater Manchester ICB row. 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 | 16,115 | 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 | 14,885 | 16,115 | 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 | 375 | 14,885 | 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 | 13,510 | 14,885 | 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
Assessment arrangements changed from April 2026
NHS Greater Manchester says new non-urgent ADHD and autism bookings with Right to Choose providers are being scheduled more gradually. It says referrals remain on the waiting list and keep their original referral date, with clinical need affecting priority.
Why this matters: For an individual update, contact the provider holding the referral. If needs become more urgent, ask that provider to review the current clinical information.
Read the source from NHS Greater ManchesterADHD and autism assessment · published 1 April 2026 · checked 14 August 2026
The ICB has published what it held about demand and capacity
In FOI 2026/1712, NHS Greater Manchester pointed to its public assessment pages and said its medium-term planning framework did not explicitly identify ADHD or autism assessment waiting times as a separate planning requirement at that stage.
Why this matters: The disclosure adds transparency about the documents held, but it is not a current personal waiting-time tool. The pathway page and referral provider remain the useful next stops.
Read the source from NHS Greater ManchesterADHD and autism demand, capacity and patient choice · published 11 May 2026 · checked 14 August 2026
ADHD referral data for NHS Greater Manchester
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
At least 32,775
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
At least 29,225
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
At least 19,625
Open for more than 52 weeks
Possible ADHD referrals recorded in the 52-to-104-week and 104-weeks-or-more bands.
Open referrals
At least 22,405
No first contact recorded
Open possible-ADHD referrals without a first care contact in the submitted Mental Health Services Dataset record.
Monthly referrals
At least 1,515
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.
FamilyFX added the published March 2026 age-band values for predecessor ICB code or codes QOP. Values are rounded to the nearest five, and asterisks marking small suppressed cells are retained as lower bounds.
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 | At least 32,775 | 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 | At least 29,225 | 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 | At least 19,625 | 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 | At least 22,405 | 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 | At least 1,515 | 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
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Covers Greater Manchester city-region
Coordinates selected city-region functions, but does not replace each council’s SEND responsibilities.
Visit websiteNHS Greater Manchester
Covers Greater Manchester
Plans and coordinates NHS services across the city-region, with pathways delivered locally.
Visit websiteTransport for Greater Manchester
Covers Greater Manchester
Runs the Bee Network and publishes accessible public transport information.
Visit websiteBolton Council SEND Local Offer
Covers Bolton
Use this Local Offer if Bolton Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteBury Council SEND Local Offer
Covers Bury
Use this Local Offer if Bury Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteManchester City Council Local Offer
Covers Manchester
Use this Local Offer if Manchester City Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteOldham Council SEND Local Offer
Covers Oldham
Use this Local Offer if Oldham Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteRochdale Borough SEND Local Offer
Covers Rochdale
Use this Local Offer if Rochdale Borough Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteSalford City Council Local Offer
Covers Salford
Use this Local Offer if Salford City Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteStockport Council SEND Local Offer
Covers Stockport
Use this Local Offer if Stockport Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteTameside SEND Local Offer
Covers Tameside
Use this Local Offer if Tameside Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteTrafford SEND Local Offer
Covers Trafford
Use this Local Offer if Trafford Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteWigan Council SEND Local Offer
Covers Wigan
Use this Local Offer if Wigan Council is responsible for your child’s SEND provision.
Visit websiteServices and local pathways
Greater Manchester autism and ADHD assessment changes
NHS Greater Manchester
This is a changing city-region pathway. Use the live NHS page and ask which locally delivered route applies to your child.
Who it is for: Children and young people whose locally delivered pathway considers that a clinical assessment may be appropriate.
How to access it: Check the live NHS page and ask the referrer which local route applies. Existing education support should not wait for a diagnosis.
Check current detailsBee Network accessibility
Transport for Greater Manchester
Information about accessible travel, assistance and facilities across Greater Manchester public transport.
Who it is for: People using buses, trams and local transport in Greater Manchester. Concessionary products have separate eligibility rules.
How to access it: Check accessibility information before travel and contact Transport for Greater Manchester about journey-specific assistance.
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
Choose your council's Local Offer below before following an education or EHC link. If you are unsure which council is responsible, ask the school or council to confirm rather than submitting the same request to several teams.
For an autism or ADHD assessment question, check the current NHS Greater Manchester update and ask the referring professional which local pathway applies. Support in education should still be based on the barriers your child faces while any clinical process continues.
For travel, distinguish everyday public transport accessibility from home-to-school travel assistance. Use the Bee Network information for buses, trams and trains, and your council's policy for school or college transport.
Related FamilyFX help
Do you support SEND families in Greater Manchester?
If you are part of a charity, parent group, advice service, inclusive activity or another organisation supporting SEND families in Greater Manchester, 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.
- Bolton SEND Local Offer, checked 14 August 2026
- Bury Council SEND Local Offer, checked 14 August 2026
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority: who we are, checked 14 August 2026
- Manchester Local Offer, checked 13 August 2026
- NHS Greater Manchester: autism and ADHD assessment changes, checked 14 August 2026
- NHS: when to use 111, checked 14 August 2026
- Oldham SEND Local Offer, checked 14 August 2026
- Rochdale SEND Local Offer, checked 13 August 2026
- Salford SEND Local Offer, checked 14 August 2026
- Stockport SEND Local Offer, checked 13 August 2026
- Tameside SEND Local Offer, checked 14 August 2026
- Trafford SEND Local Offer, checked 13 August 2026
- Transport for Greater Manchester: accessibility, checked 13 August 2026
- Wigan SEND Local Offer, checked 14 August 2026