The Lighthouse Child Development Centre

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!

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.

Neurodisability is an umbrella term for conditions associated with impairment involving the nervous system and includes conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism and learning disability. Many children with  neurodisability have complex and continuing needs and are frequent users of health services at all levels; community, primary care inpatient and outpatient settings. For some children with Neurodisability, the range of associated conditions and individual presentations means that specialist neurodisability expertise is required for accurate assessment and management. In such cases health outcomes are enhanced through referral from local teams to a tertiary specialist paediatric multi-disciplinary neurodisability service.

Early diagnosis and targeted interventions contribute positively to the reduction in late and potentially avoidable disability.

Neurodisability service

Paediatric 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. More information is on our website.

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

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
• 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).
• Neuro-sisability clinics
• 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, early help, 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)
• Children with disabilities social care team