SEND Local Offer
Buckinghamshire SEND Local Offer
On the council’s Family Information Service, setting out the support available for children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND.
Areas we cover · South Buckinghamshire
Autism and mental health assessment in Gerrards Cross, Chalfont and Denham
Oakwell works in South Buckinghamshire, including Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles and Denham. Our mental health assessment can take place at home, and our autism assessment for ages 6 to adult is mostly online. Buckinghamshire has published a clear position on private autism assessments, which we quote in full below.
Who this page is for: families and adults in Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Denham and nearby.
Mental health assessment in Gerrards Cross, Chalfont and Denham, with home visits
Between the villages of South Buckinghamshire, getting to an appointment can mean a long journey. Hans can carry out your mental health assessment at home instead, so you don’t need to travel, and so you’re somewhere you feel comfortable.
It’s for ages 16 and over and costs £200, including the initial consultation. You get Hans’s clinical impression and clear recommendations, not a diagnosis, and help reaching the right service, whether that’s your GP, NHS services in Buckinghamshire or a local organisation. With your consent, he writes to your GP.
Mental health assessment and triageThe six stages of the assessment
Autism assessment for South Buckinghamshire children, teenagers and adults
Buckinghamshire’s position statement says a private assessment that uses the NICE-recognised approach will usually be accepted as part of the assessment of special educational needs, and that paying privately doesn’t affect your child’s place on the NHS waiting list. It also asks parents to check whether a private provider’s assessment is in line with NICE guidance, so please ask us how ours compares before you book. CHECK: Oakwell’s NICE wording once D2.2 is resolved (§17)
The statement advises that your child should still be referred to the NHS pathway, run for ages 5 to 18 by the Buckinghamshire CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Assessment Team, even if you’re seeking a private assessment. It says a parent, school or medical professional can make that request.
For adults, Oxford Health’s BAADIS service takes referrals through your GP. Our assessment for adults is a private option you can contact directly.
Our autism assessment, ages 6 to adultHow the ten steps work
Goal coaching for young people in Gerrards Cross, Chalfont and Denham
For young people aged 16 to 21 around Gerrards Cross, the Chalfonts and Denham, the Goal Coaching Mentorship Programme offers one-to-one goal coaching with Hans. It suits young people who feel stuck and want a realistic plan, with or without a diagnosis.
The Goal Coaching Mentorship ProgrammeWhat happens in mentorship
In Gerrards Cross
Gerrards Cross doesn’t have its own family hub; the nearest is in Beaconsfield, which runs SEND drop-ins and guidance. For autism-specific support, the National Autistic Society’s South Buckinghamshire branch holds coffee mornings in Burnham, and its monthly newsletter covers the whole area.
Beaconsfield Family Hub
The nearest council family hub, in Beaconsfield, offering SEND drop-ins and guidance.
In Chalfont St Peter and Chalfont St Giles
Chalfont St Peter and Chalfont St Giles are served by Amersham Family Hub, at Little Chalfont, which runs SEND drop-ins. For a day out, the Chiltern Open Air Museum in Chalfont St Giles lends sensory backpacks with ear defenders. SPACE Support’s parent coffee mornings meet nearby in Chesham.
Amersham Family Hub, Little Chalfont
A council family hub at Little Chalfont, offering SEND drop-ins and guidance for children and young people from birth to 19, or up to 25 with SEND.
Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles
Not a support service, but a local day out that lends sensory backpacks with ear defenders, and lets one carer per disabled visitor in free.
In Denham
Denham has no family hub or library of its own in the council’s listings; the nearest family hub is The Ivers, in Iver. Denham sits on the boundary with Hillingdon, so if your council is Hillingdon, see our Ruislip, Uxbridge and Northwood page instead.
The Ivers Family Hub
The nearest council family hub, in Iver, offering SEND drop-ins and guidance.
Local support in South Buckinghamshire
Free and impartial services for families and adults in South Buckinghamshire, whatever the outcome of any assessment. We list them so you know where to turn; we’re not connected to any of them.
SENDIASS (free, impartial SEND advice)
Bucks SENDIAS Service
Free, impartial information, advice and support for Buckinghamshire children and young people aged 0 to 25 with SEND, and their parents and carers.
The service says the best way to get in touch is its online contact form. As a last resort there’s a voicemail on 01296 383 754: leave an email address. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Parent carer forum
FACT Bucks
Families and Carers Together in Buckinghamshire, the parent carer forum for Buckinghamshire. It posts regular news and holds an annual SEND community event, open to all parents and carers.
Local group
National Autistic Society, South Buckinghamshire branch
A monthly email newsletter with local signposting, and parent and carer coffee mornings in Burnham and Princes Risborough.
Local group
SPACE Support Chesham and South Bucks
A parent-led group for families of children with ADHD or autism, meeting monthly in Chesham for a coffee morning with speakers.
Local group
The Parent’s Portal by Autism Early Support
An online community of support, resources and guidance, free for Buckinghamshire residents.
If you’re worried about a child’s safety
First Response
01296 383 962, 9am to 5:30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 5pm Friday. At other times, the Emergency Duty Team on 0800 999 7677.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
NHS route · Children (5 to 18)
Buckinghamshire CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Assessment Team
Run by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. The local area’s position statement says a parent, school or medical professional can complete the request.
NHS route · Adults
Buckinghamshire Adult Autism Diagnostic and Intervention Service (BAADIS)
Oxford Health advises speaking to your GP, who can discuss with you whether to complete a referral.
Buckinghamshire’s NHS services are planned by NHS Thames Valley, the integrated care board formed on 1 April 2026 from NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West and NHS Frimley.
What does South Buckinghamshire say about private autism assessments?
The local area’s position statement on autism and ADHD assessment for children and young people, reviewed in February 2026, says:
“If the assessment is completed using the NICE guidance recognised approach, this will usually be accepted as part of the assessment of special educational needs (SEN).”
“The child or young person is still entitled to free NHS care. If parents/carers choose to pay for extra private care, this will not affect the child’s position on the NHS waiting list.”
“However, support can be provided in school without a diagnosis and requesting an education, health and care plan (EHCP) will not speed up the diagnostic assessment.”
“The child should be referred to the pathway even if parents are seeking a private assessment.”
It also advises: “The parent/carer should research private providers and ask them if their assessment is in line with NICE Guidance.” Our guide explains what that means for a private report.
Questions from South Buckinghamshire families
Will Buckinghamshire accept a private autism assessment?
Buckinghamshire’s position statement says an assessment completed “using the NICE guidance recognised approach” will usually be accepted as part of the assessment of special educational needs. It also says support can be given in school without a diagnosis. Ask any provider, including us, how their assessment compares with NICE guidance.
Will paying privately affect my child’s place on the NHS waiting list?
Not in Buckinghamshire. The position statement says: “If parents/carers choose to pay for extra private care, this will not affect the child’s position on the NHS waiting list.” It also advises that your child should still be referred to the NHS pathway.
Will asking for an EHCP speed up an autism assessment in Buckinghamshire?
No. The position statement says requesting an education, health and care plan “will not speed up the diagnostic assessment”. They’re separate processes, and your child doesn’t need a diagnosis either to get support in school or to have an EHC needs assessment.
Will school, the NHS or the council accept a private report?
Each organisation decides how it uses a private report, so we can’t promise how yours will be used. The report is written to be shared with your child’s school, GP and, if relevant, the local authority as part of an EHCP needs assessment. Our guide explains what schools, the NHS and local authorities say about private assessments, including Buckinghamshire’s published position.
Can the mental health assessment happen at home?
Yes, where needed. We know that coming to meet face to face can be difficult, so Hans can see you at home, across the areas we cover, somewhere comfortable and familiar. Young people aged 16 and 17 are offered the choice of having a parent or carer there. Just mention it when you get in touch.
Nearby areas we cover
Autism assessments are online; home visits are for the mental health assessment, across these areas and surrounding areas.
Not sure what you need? Talk it through with us.
No referral needed. Prefer not to phone? Email or use the form. That’s completely fine.