The Child Development Centre (CDC) provides comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and management of developmental, learning and behavioural difficulties. We specialise in assessing and managing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), specific learning disorders, intellectual disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Tic’s and Tourette’s, behaviour and emotional concerns. We see children when parents or professionals have concerns about a child’s development and/or a child shows challenging behaviour. Our goal is to support families’ help their children reach their potential and be the best version of themselves!
Contact the Lighthouse Centre
- Phone:
- 0344 257 3952
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Address:
Snakes Lane
Southend
SS2 6XT
Services provided
- Neuro-Developmental Clinics
- Neuro-Disability Clinics
- Paediatric Audiology
- Specialist Health Visitor with Additional Needs
- Special School Nurses and Epilepsy
The South East Essex Neurodevelopmental Service supports children who have a neurodevelopmental disorder as well as their parents and carers. It is available for children and young people living in the Southend, Castle Point and Rochford area.
Our neurodevelopmental pathway helps children and young people who are showing signs of a neurodevelopmental disorder. Our highly-specialist clinicians are able to assess children and young people, and diagnose neurodevelopmental conditions such as:
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- tics and Tourette’s syndrome
- dyspraxia
Having a diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental disorder can help children and families understand their needs and access support.
However, your child does not need a diagnosis to get help in school. Read more about support for children and their families on our information for parents and carers page.
Children’s specialist Neurodisability services will be delivered by consultants trained in Neurology and Neurodisability. They work with multidisciplinary teams consisting of children physiotherapists and children occupational therapists.
The multidisciplinary specialist assessment will:
- Provide an understanding of children’s developmental difficulties, disabilities and diagnoses and discuss the implications of these with families
- Respond to questions raised by parents and local teams
- Make recommendations to optimise the management of a child’s needs
- Liaise effectively with primary and secondary service
- Provide a detailed letter addressing all parts of the assessment and suggested management
Service information
Waiting for your child’s assessment
We are working hard to reduce our waiting lists to see children referred to our services as quickly as possible. The waiting list for assessments for autism are currently around 12 months. The waiting time for an assessment or ADHD is currently around 14 months. However, this can depend on individual requirements.
Ensure your details are up to date
Whilst you are waiting it is very important that you let us know if you change your address or if you change your GP by emailing the admin team on [email protected] or [email protected] or by calling 07581 053693.
Support available while you are waiting
We offer autism and ADHD workshops in venues in Southend and Essex. Your child does not need to have received a diagnosis in order for you to attend these sessions. These workshops provide help and advice to carers and families in supporting children with behaviour challenges, or a diagnosis of autism or ADHD.
Resources and information which may be helpful while your child is awaiting their assessment, as well as details of local organisations who can provide support, can also be found on our website.
You can also discuss your concerns with your child’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) at your child’s school or educational setting. You should discuss any provision currently in place and consider any changes required.
Referral information
Referrals are accepted from the following providers:
- GP’s
- School Nurses
- Health Visitors
- Speech Therapists
The Child Development Centre accepts referrals for Children under 5 years who have:
- Neuro-developmental (Behaviour & social communication concerns and/or possible autism) and Neuro-disability
- Motor difficulties
- Developmental concerns including global delay, motor, language, visual or severe hearing impairment
- Learning difficulties
- Neurological concerns, Downs Syndrome, cerebral palsy or other syndromes / genetic conditions
Referrals for Children over 5 years is accepted from the following Healthcare Providers:
- GP’s
- CAMHS
- School Nurses, Essex (Castle Point and Rochford)
Resources for parents and carers
There are a wide range of local, national and international resources available for parents and carers who are supporting a child or young person with neurodevelopmental needs. You can find these on our resources for parents and carers page.
Additional services
- Neuro-developmental clinics and Neurodisability clinics
- Children developmental clinics.
- Multi-disciplinary assessment for children and young people with social communication difficulties (includes assessment by children’s, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist and clinical psychologist and involvement of the child’s nursery).
- Referrals to clinicians, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) support services as appropriate.
- We have very close links with the wider multidisciplinary team including professionals from health, education, social care and the voluntary sector. More complex children may have a large team around them requiring a “team around the child” approach.
- Medical investigations where appropriate and liaison with other paediatric services.
- Children’s audiology
- ADHD clinical nurses
- Specialist health visitor with additional needs/behaviour and play
- Special school nurses and epilepsy
- Toy library
- Sensory stimulation (including sensory garden)