SEND Local Offer
Harrow SEND Local Offer
Harrow Council’s guide to services and support for children and young people under 25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
Areas we cover · Harrow
Autism and mental health assessment in Harrow, Pinner and Stanmore
Oakwell works with families and adults across the London Borough of Harrow, including Harrow, Pinner and Stanmore. Our mental health assessment, for ages 16 and over, can take place in your own home. Our autism assessment, for ages 6 to adult, is mostly online, with the observation session at home if that suits your child better. No referral is needed.
Who this page is for: families and adults in Harrow, Pinner, Stanmore and nearby, and the professionals who work with them.
Mental health assessment in Harrow, Pinner and Stanmore, with home visits
If something doesn’t feel right and you’re not sure where to turn, Hans Naicker can come to you. He’s an NMC-registered mental health nurse who carries out every Oakwell mental health assessment himself, at home where that helps, anywhere in Harrow, Pinner or Stanmore.
The assessment costs £200, including the initial consultation. It ends with Hans’s clinical impression, clear recommendations and help reaching the right service, such as your GP, NHS community mental health services or a local organisation. With your consent, he writes to your Harrow GP, so you don’t have to tell your story twice.
Mental health assessment and triageThe six stages of the assessment
Autism assessment for Harrow children, teenagers and adults
For Harrow families, the developmental history session is online, so you can take part from home or anywhere quiet. Your child’s observation session is usually by secure video, or face to face at home where that suits them better, and can be arranged at school if home isn’t possible.
If your child is at a Harrow school, a short questionnaire goes to the SENCO, class teacher or teaching assistant. Harrow’s SENDIAS Service, run by Family Action, can advise you on SEN support at any stage, with or without a diagnosis.
Adults registered with a Harrow GP can also ask about the NHS Harrow Autism Diagnostic Service, which takes referrals from GPs and other health professionals. Our adult assessment 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 Harrow, Pinner and Stanmore
The Goal Coaching Mentorship Programme is for Harrow young people aged 16 to 21 who feel stuck and want a realistic plan. Hans works one to one with each young person on goals they choose, and family is involved only if the young person wants that.
The Goal Coaching Mentorship ProgrammeWhat happens in mentorship
In Harrow
Harrow town is where most of the borough’s council-run family services are. The Best Start in Life Family Hubs at Cedars, in Harrow Weald, and Hillview, in South Harrow, run sessions for young children, and Wealdstone Youth Centre welcomes young people with SEND at its term-time clubs. Timetables change each term, so check the latest before you go.
Best Start in Life Family Hubs, Cedars and Hillview
Sensory play drop-ins for under-5s, including a sensory room at Cedars in Harrow Weald, and speech and communication drop-ins (TALK & Play).
Wealdstone Youth Centre
Term-time youth clubs that welcome young people with SEND, listed by the council for ages 9 to 19 (up to 25 with SEND).
In Pinner
In Pinner, the council’s sessions at the Pinner Centre include a general speech and communication drop-in for young children. We haven’t found a Pinner-based service specific to autism yet, so the borough-wide support below applies. Pinner’s HA5 postcodes cross the borough boundary into Eastcote, which is in Hillingdon: the council you pay council tax to decides which Local Offer and SENDIASS you use.
The Pinner Centre
A general speech, language and communication drop-in (TALK & Play) for young children, not specific to autism.
In Stanmore
Stanmore Park’s family hub site runs a general TALK & Play drop-in for young children. For autism-specific support, Harrow’s SENDIAS Service, the parent carer forum and the local groups below all cover Stanmore families. Stanmore borders Barnet and Hertsmere, so if one of those is your council, its own Local Offer applies.
Stanmore Park family hub site
A general TALK & Play speech and communication drop-in for young children, not specific to autism.
Local support in Harrow
Free and impartial services for families and adults in Harrow, 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)
Harrow SENDIAS Service
Free, independent information, advice and support on SEND, run independently of the council by the charity Family Action.
Call 020 8428 6487 or email harrow.sendias@family-action.org.uk, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Parent carer forum
Harrow Parent Carer Forum
A parent-led SEND participation forum funded by the Department for Education. Harrow Council worked with the forum on SEND holiday provision in 2025.
Local group
Centre for ADHD and Autism Support (CAAS)
Founded by parents in Harrow in 1996. Runs drop-in support groups and talks for families, from its centre in Eastcote.
Local group
Kids Can Achieve
Based at Cedars Hall in Harrow, supporting children and young people aged 5 to 25 with learning disabilities, including autistic children and those with ADHD or complex communication needs.
If you’re worried about a child’s safety
Harrow Children’s Access Team
020 8901 2690, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Evenings, weekends and bank holidays: the emergency duty team on 020 8424 0999.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
NHS route · Children
Speak to your GP
The NHS advises speaking to a GP to find out how to get an autism assessment locally. For children, the school may need to make the referral.
NHS route · Adults
Harrow Autism Diagnostic Service
An NHS service, run by CNWL, for adults registered with a Harrow GP. The council’s page says referrals are made by GPs or other health professionals, such as adult mental health services.
Harrow’s NHS services are planned by NHS West and North London, the integrated care board formed on 1 April 2026 when NHS North West London and North Central London joined together.
What does Harrow say about private autism assessments?
Harrow had not published a statement on private autism assessments when we checked. Its guidance on ordinarily available inclusive provision says:
“Support should be based on what each child needs, not just their age or any diagnosis.”
Source: Ordinarily available inclusive provision (OAIP), London Borough of Harrow.
Our guide covers how schools, the NHS and councils treat private reports.
Questions from Harrow families
Can I get an autism assessment for my child in Harrow without a referral?
Yes. You can contact Oakwell directly, without a GP or school referral. For an NHS assessment, the NHS advises speaking to your GP, and in some areas the school makes the referral. Harrow’s SENDIAS Service can help with school support at any stage, with or without a diagnosis.
Does Harrow Council need a diagnosis before my child gets support?
No. Harrow’s guidance says support should be based on what each child needs, not just their age or any diagnosis. If you’re unsure what your child’s school should offer, Harrow’s SENDIAS Service gives free, independent advice: call 020 8428 6487 or email harrow.sendias@family-action.org.uk.
Can Hans visit us at home in Pinner or Stanmore?
Yes, for the mental health assessment, which is for ages 16 and over. Hans can see you at home anywhere in Harrow, Pinner or Stanmore. For a child’s autism assessment, the observation session can also be face to face at home where that suits your child better.
Can school be involved, or the assessment take place at school?
Yes. For children, a short questionnaire goes to school, for the SENCO, class teacher or teaching assistant, so we understand how your child is at school as well as at home. If a session at home isn’t possible, it can be arranged at school instead. CHECK: who sends the school questionnaire, and how parental consent is recorded (D2.4)
How much does a private autism assessment cost at Oakwell?
£1,999, with no VAT payable. That covers the initial consultation, the questionnaires, the developmental history (ADI-R), the ADOS-2 observation session, the team review, the feedback appointment, the written report, a follow-up call within 6 weeks, report amendments and extra letters, and signposting, whatever the outcome. CHECK: one fee for children and adults: will child fees differ? (§1)
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.