How long is the wait for an autism assessment in Waltham Forest?
Short answer. Children seen by NELFT, the NHS trust that assesses children in Waltham Forest, who had their first autism assessment appointment in the 3 months to March 2026, had waited a median of 431 days (about 14 months) since referral. Half waited longer. NICE says an assessment should start within 3 months. Across North East London the median was 677 days, in London 531 days and in England 473 days.
NHS England figures for the 3 months to March 2026. Later months are not used yet (see below). This is how long other families waited, not a prediction for your child.
Waits for a first assessment appointment, 3 months to March 2026
| Area | Median wait from referral | Children waiting | Of those, waiting 13 weeks or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| NELFT | 431 days (about 14 months) | 4,305 | 95.4% |
| North East London | 677 days (about 22 months) | 2,885 | 89.8% |
| London | 531 days (about 17 months) | 8,475 | 85.4% |
| England | 473 days (about 16 months) | 164,899 | 88.4% |
Source: NHS England, Autism waiting time statistics (experimental statistics). Children aged 0 to 17.
NICE guidance says an autism assessment should start within 3 months (13 weeks) of referral (NICE, Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: recognition, referral and diagnosis (CG128) (December 2017), recommendation 1.5.1).
"NELFT" is North East London NHS Foundation Trust, the NHS trust that runs children's community and mental health services in Waltham Forest. It also works in other boroughs. "North East London" counts children living in or registered with a GP in the NHS North East London area, whoever they were referred to. Neither is for Waltham Forest alone.
What the council reports
The council's own reports track two NHS routes in Waltham Forest (London Borough of Waltham Forest, SEND Local Area Improvement Plan - Highlight Report (September 2025) (October 2025), p. 18):
| Measure | March 2025 baseline | July 2025 | August 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under-5s autism assessment (SACC): children waiting over 52 weeks | 25 | 31 | 28 |
| CAMHS neurodevelopmental pathway: average wait once on pathway (weeks) | 48 | 46 | 39 |
"Once on pathway" suggests the CAMHS figure doesn't include time on the waiting list before that. The council doesn't say.
What these figures don't tell you
- The wait is to the first assessment appointment. Getting a diagnosis can take longer.
- The median is the middle wait. Half of children waited longer.
- In April 2026 the number of children NELFT reports as waiting fell by about 90% in a single month, with no explanation from NHS England. A change in how NELFT records data is more likely than a real fall. Until it is explained, this page uses figures up to March 2026. The later months are on the health page.
Can I ask to be referred somewhere else for an autism or ADHD assessment?
In England, if your GP refers you to a mental health service, you can usually choose which NHS-funded provider you are referred to for your first appointment. Ask your GP. This is sometimes called "right to choose" (Department of Health and Social Care, NHS Choice Framework: what choices are available to you in your NHS care (October 2024)). Not every provider assesses children, and some have their own waiting lists, so ask how long the wait is before you choose.
Support at school doesn't need a diagnosis
You don't need a diagnosis to ask the council for an EHC needs assessment. The legal test is about your child's needs (Children and Families Act 2014, section 36(8)). See how long an EHC plan takes.
For trend charts and the full figures, see the health page.