SEND Local Offer
HELLO, Hillingdon’s SEND Local Offer
HELLO stands for Hillingdon Empowering Local Lives Offer, a name chosen by young people with SEND.
Areas we cover · Hillingdon
Autism and mental health assessment in Ruislip, Uxbridge and Northwood
Oakwell works across the London Borough of Hillingdon, including Ruislip, Uxbridge and Northwood. Hans carries out mental health assessments at home where that helps, and our autism assessment for ages 6 to adult is mostly online, with a home observation where it suits your child. Our registered office is in Ruislip, but it isn’t a clinic, and we don’t see anyone there.
Who this page is for: families and adults in Ruislip, Uxbridge, Northwood and the rest of Hillingdon.
Mental health assessment in Ruislip, Uxbridge and Northwood, with home visits
Getting to an appointment isn’t always easy, and for some people leaving the house is the hardest part. Hans can carry out your mental health assessment at home, in Ruislip, Uxbridge, Northwood or nearby, so you’re seen somewhere familiar.
It’s for anyone aged 16 or over, costs £200 including the initial consultation, and ends with Hans’s clinical impression and a clear plan. If talking therapy looks right, the NHS says you can refer yourself to NHS talking therapies if you’re registered with a GP and aged 18 or over (16 or over in some areas). With your consent, we write to your GP.
Mental health assessment and triageThe six stages of the assessment
Autism assessment for Hillingdon children, teenagers and adults
If you think your child may be autistic, Hillingdon Council suggests talking to your GP or health visitor, who can refer to the child development centre. You can also choose a private assessment: you don’t need a referral to contact us, and you can do both.
Our developmental history session is online, and the observation session is usually by secure video, or face to face at home where that suits your child better. For children at Hillingdon schools, a short questionnaire goes to the SENCO, class teacher or teaching assistant.
For adults, a 2025 council report says autistic adults without a co-occurring disability approach their GP for referral to a specialist assessor. Our adult autism assessment is a private alternative.
Our autism assessment, ages 6 to adultHow the ten steps work
Goal coaching for young people in Ruislip, Uxbridge and Northwood
For 16 to 21-year-olds in Hillingdon who feel stuck, whether at college, at university, in work or between things, the Goal Coaching Mentorship Programme offers one-to-one goal coaching with Hans. Family is involved only if the young person wants that.
The Goal Coaching Mentorship ProgrammeWhat happens in mentorship
In Ruislip
Ruislip has two council-run sessions that suit young neurodivergent children: Tiny Senses at Manor Farm Library, and Stay and Play Plus at South Ruislip Family Hub, for children with additional needs and those waiting for a diagnosis. The Centre for ADHD and Autism Support is close by, in Eastcote.
Tiny Senses at Manor Farm Library
Free sensory stories and songs for ages 2 to 5, which the council says are particularly beneficial to neurodivergent children.
Stay and Play Plus, South Ruislip Family Hub
Sessions for children with additional needs and disabilities and those waiting for a diagnosis, booked in advance.
In Uxbridge
Uxbridge Family Hub, in the Civic Centre on the High Street, hosts Stay and Play Plus, Hillingdon SENDIASS drop-ins, and sessions with the parent carer forum. Some of the SENDIASS drop-ins are specifically for parents and carers of a child with a new neurodivergent diagnosis.
Uxbridge Family Hub, Civic Centre
Stay and Play Plus sessions, and Hillingdon SENDIASS drop-ins, including for parents and carers of a child with a new neurodivergent diagnosis. No referral or booking needed for the drop-ins.
Tiny Senses at Uxbridge Library
Free Saturday sensory stories and songs for ages 2 to 5.
In Northwood
Northwood sits on the borough’s northern edge, next to Moor Park and Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire. Hillingdon’s borough-wide support covers Northwood families. If you live just over the county boundary, see our Rickmansworth page for Hertfordshire’s services.
We haven’t found a Northwood-based SEND service to list yet. The nearest Stay and Play Plus sessions we found are at South Ruislip Family Hub and Harefield Children’s Centre.
Local support in Hillingdon
Free and impartial services for families and adults in Hillingdon, 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)
Hillingdon SENDIASS
A free, confidential and impartial service for parents, carers and young people aged 0 to 25 with, or who may have, special educational needs. No referral is needed.
Call 01895 277001, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm, or use the contact form on its website. It also runs drop-in sessions.
Parent carer forum
Hillingdon Parent Carers Forum
The borough’s parent carer forum. Its new website is due in autumn 2026, and the council’s family hub timetable lists forum sessions at Uxbridge Family Hub.
Local group
Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support (HACS)
A Hayes-based charity running sessions such as Understanding Autism Together and face-to-face autism surgeries. A council report notes HACS support for children and young people waiting for an autism diagnosis.
Local group
Centre for ADHD and Autism Support (CAAS)
Drop-in support groups and talks for families, at its centre in Eastcote, near Ruislip.
If you’re worried about a child’s safety
Stronger Families Hub
01895 556006, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
NHS route · Children
Hillingdon Council: autism
The council suggests making an appointment with your GP or health visitor to talk through your concerns. If they agree, they refer your child to the child development centre or another health professional.
NHS route · Adults
Supporting autistic people: council report, September 2025
Adults without a co-occurring disability approach their GP for referral to a specialist assessor.
Hillingdon is one of the 13 boroughs covered by NHS West and North London, the integrated care board that took over from NHS North West London on 1 April 2026.
What does Hillingdon say about private autism assessments?
Hillingdon had not published a statement on private autism assessments when we checked. Its SEND pages say:
“A formal diagnosis is not required to access support from Hillingdon services.”
Source: I think my child has special educational needs, London Borough of Hillingdon.
Our guide covers how schools, the NHS and councils treat private reports.
Questions from Hillingdon families
Can I get my child assessed for autism in Ruislip or Uxbridge without a GP referral?
Yes, privately: you can contact Oakwell directly. For an NHS assessment, Hillingdon Council suggests talking to your GP or health visitor first. If they agree, they refer your child to the child development centre or another health professional.
Does my child need a diagnosis to get support in Hillingdon?
No. Hillingdon’s SEND pages say: “A formal diagnosis is not required to access support from Hillingdon services.” Hillingdon SENDIASS can explain what your child’s school should offer: call 01895 277001, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Is there local support after a new diagnosis in Hillingdon?
Yes. Hillingdon SENDIASS runs drop-ins for parents and carers of a child with a new neurodivergent diagnosis, including at Uxbridge Family Hub, with no referral or booking needed. HACS and the Centre for ADHD and Autism Support also run sessions for families.
Are assessments online or in person?
It depends on the service. For an autism assessment, the developmental history session is online, and the observation session is usually by secure video, or face to face at home where that suits a child better. The mental health assessment can include a home visit, because coming to meet face to face can be difficult. We choose the approach with you.
Does my child need a diagnosis to ask for an EHC needs assessment?
No. You can ask your local authority for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment without a diagnosis. What matters is whether your child has or may have special educational needs, and may need support through an EHC plan. Your local SENDIASS and the charity IPSEA explain how to ask. Our guide covers how a private report fits in.
Nearby areas we cover
Autism assessments are online; home visits are for the mental health assessment, across these areas and surrounding areas.
Adults
Adult autism assessmentMental health
The six stages, step by stepIllustrative journeys
What an assessment can look like
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.