When a child needs a SEND assessment, families weigh two things at once: how long the NHS will take, and what going private would cost. This guide brings both together — not to push you one way, but to show you the reality clearly so you can decide what is right for your family.
See typical NHS waiting times by service — autism, ADHD, speech therapy, OT and CAMHS — based on the latest national data.
Check NHS wait times →See realistic UK price ranges for a private assessment, matched to your child’s age and location, with what’s included.
Open the cost calculator →Most decisions about a private assessment come down to a trade-off between time and money. The NHS is free but the wait can be long; going private is faster but carries a cost. Neither is automatically the right answer — and you do not have to choose blind.
NHS waits vary widely by service and by where you live, but the national picture is long: autism assessments commonly run 13–24+ months, ADHD 12–36 months, and children’s therapies 6–18 months. Use the NHS waiting times estimator for a figure matched to your situation, or read the detail by service:
Private costs depend on the assessment type, how many appointments are included, whether a written report is provided, and who carries it out. As a rough guide, a private ADHD assessment for a child runs around £700–£2,200 and autism around £1,400–£4,200, with therapy assessments from a few hundred pounds upward. The cost calculator gives a realistic range for your child and explains what is usually included versus what costs extra.
Some families choose to wait for the NHS; others prioritise getting answers sooner. Both are valid. A few things are worth knowing as you decide:
Understanding the system makes it easier to plan around. Demand has risen sharply, the specialist workforce has not kept pace, and services are funded locally — which is why your neighbour’s wait can look nothing like yours. We explain this in why NHS SEND waiting lists are so long and why waiting times vary by area.
It depends on your child’s needs, the NHS wait in your area, and your budget. A private assessment can bring answers sooner, and a private report can support an EHCP request. Use the wait estimator and cost calculator together to weigh it up.
Yes — a private diagnostic report can be used as evidence to support school support and an EHCP request. For ADHD medication, ongoing NHS prescribing after a private diagnosis depends on a shared-care agreement, which varies between GPs.
The SEND List is a free directory of verified SEND specialists across the UK.
Search the directory →This page brings together estimates from published data and varies by area and provider. The SEND List does not set or guarantee pricing, and this is general information rather than clinical or legal advice. Data reviewed: June 2026.