NHS learning disability screening tool for children and young people (Wolverhampton trial).
The learning disability screening tool is a short questionnaire that can help identify if a child or young person aged between 6 and 18 may have a learning disability.
The tool cannot:
• tell you if the child or young person definitely has a learning disability or not, it can only give you an indication.
• diagnose the specific learning disability the child or young person may have.
The tool was developed by NHS clinicians based on feedback from families.
Why use the tool
Services recognise the challenges faced by families and are looking for faster and more efficient ways of getting families the support they need. An early assessment of possible children and young people with SEND helps their families and professionals identify what they need at the early opportunity, this means the child or young person gets the best support for them and their family at the right time.
If the tool indicates that the child or young person may have a learning disability, this can help:
- identify the appropriate services for the child or young person.
- their GP add them to the children’s disability register.
Who can use the tool?
The learning disability tool is designed to be used by:
- young people
- parents and carers
- families
- professionals such as nurses, teachers, social workers, GPs.
You can use the tool with or on behalf of the child or young person.
The tool is not suitable for children and young people aged:
- under 6
- over 18
Remember that the tool can only give an indication of whether the child or young person has a learning disability or not. You must always get an assessment from a professional, such as your GP, to confirm what the tool tells you.
Tool Outcomes
When you've answered the questions in the tool, you'll get one of two outcomes.
Outcome 1 - Your responses indicate that it's likely the child or young person has a learning disability. You should ask the child or young person's:
- GP for support and an assessment
- school nurse and Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) for support.
You could also ask your GP to:
- add the child or young person to Children’s Learning Disability Register
- arrange an Annual Health Check for the child or young person.
Outcome 2 - Your responses indicate that it's unlikely the child or young person has a learning disability.
However, if you still have concerns, talk to the child or young person's:
- GP
- school nurse
- Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) within school.