28/04/2026
Aberdeen to pilot improved neurodevelopment pathway for children
An improved Neurodevelopmental Pathway for children and young people will be introduced in Aberdeen from August 2026, following agreement at today’s meeting of Aberdeen City Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee.
The new approach will be delivered as a ‘Test of Change’, led jointly by Aberdeen City Council and the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, and will focus on improving how children and families access assessment, diagnosis and support for neurodevelopmental differences.
Councillor Martin Greig, convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “We know that delays in identifying and supporting neurodivergent children can have a lasting impact on their education, wellbeing and family life. This Test of Change is about working differently across services to provide earlier, more consistent and more compassionate support while learning what works best for children and families here in Aberdeen.”
Councillor Lee Fairfull, vice-convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “By grounding this new pathway in Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) and neuro-affirming practice, we are focusing on children’s strengths and lived experiences, not just diagnoses. This collaborative approach gives us a structured and sustainable way to improve outcomes, reduce pressure on specialist services and build a more inclusive system of support.”
Fiona Mitchelhill, Chief Officer, Aberdeen City HSCP, said: “Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership is pleased to support this Test of Change, which reflects our shared commitment to early intervention, equality of access and strengths-based, neuro-affirming practice. By working collaboratively across services, we can improve experiences for children and families while building a more sustainable system of support.”
Neurodivergence affects around 15% of the Scottish population, with increasing demand placing significant pressure on services. Locally, families often experience long waiting times, fragmented pathways and uncertainty while seeking support, reflecting challenges seen nationally.
The Test of Change aims to address these challenges by introducing a streamlined, multi-agency pathway grounded in Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) principles, with a stronger focus on early identification, strengths-based practice and lived experience.
From August 2026, an Allied Health Professionals-led multidisciplinary consultation pathway will be introduced across one Associated School Group. The initial focus will be on children in the preschool to Primary One transition stage, where concerns around development, behaviour and attendance are increasingly being identified.
Improved, collaborative multi-agency assessments will gather holistic information about each child, including contextual factors, strengths, and the experiences of children and their families. The Council’s Educational Psychology Service will be supporting the development of the new pathway process to ensure high-quality, evidence-based information informs assessment, planning, identification and, where appropriate, diagnosis.
In some cases, this approach may lead to a formal diagnosis. In others, it will support earlier intervention and more effective planning without the need to wait for specialist diagnostic services, helping children and families access the right support at the right time.
The Test of Change has four key elements:
An Allied Health Professionals-led pathway to assessment, diagnosis and support, supported by a multi-agency team.
Effective planning and intervention to meet individual needs and uphold children’s rights.
Building capacity and confidence across the workforce, families and communities through neuro-affirming practice.
Reshaping supports as part of the Council’s wider Family Support Model.
The project will be supported by additional capacity funded through the Fairer Futures Partnership Grant, allowing it to run alongside existing services rather than replacing them. An evaluation will be presented to committee by August 2028 to inform future decisions and potential wider rollout.
The Test of Change aligns with national priorities set out by the Scottish Government, including the Neurodevelopmental Specification and guidance from the National Autism Implementation Team, and supports Aberdeen City Council’s ambition to create healthier, fairer and more inclusive communities.
