Under 5 years of age
If you think there could be a problem with the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves talk to your child’s doctor or health visitor and share your concerns. Don’t wait.
Useful guides to development
Use the
NHS Birth-to-five development timeline to see when your child may gain certain skills and learn new things. The ages given are averages and a lot of children will gain one skill earlier than another.
If you're worried about a child's speech, language or communication skill
Talking Point has a progress checker and lots of information and activities.
If you still have concerns then talk with your doctor or health visitor, write down the questions you have and show them the milestones your child has reached and the ones that concern you.
There are also 1 year old and 2 year old reviews carried out by health visitors which are a good time to raise any concerns.
Hounslow health visitors website has the clinic information and more advice.
Over 5
If your child is over 5 then talk to their teacher or the Special Educational needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) at their school if they seem to be struggling with learning development (reading, writing, numbers, communication) - talk to your GP for any concerns.
They can refer you on to a community paediatrician if needed.