Name: Meet the Educational Psychologists (An Informal Q&A Session)
Start: 2026-10-08T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-08T14:00:00+01:00
Location: North Star Centre

Previously called the Social Communication Pathway (SCP), the Manchester Neurodevelopmental (ND) Service is our local assessment and support service for children and young people (aged 3 to 18 years) who experience differences or difficulties with:

* Social relationships
* Expressing and understanding feelings
* Communication
* Changes to routine/unexpected changes
* Sensitivity to sensory input such as noise, textures and tastes
* Young people may also have special interests and things they are very good at

The Manchester ND Service (MNDS) is a multi-disciplinary team, which means lots of different professionals can contribute to the triage of applications/ assessment of children/ young people. This includes:

* Clinical Psychologist
* Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
* Consultant Paediatrician
* Educational Psychologist from One Education
* Occupational Therapist
* Mental Health Practitioner
* Speech and Language Therapist

Some children and young people experience these differences because they are autistic (also known as having autism spectrum disorder or autistic spectrum condition) while some of them may have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Some children and young people have these differences but are neither autistic nor ADHD. The MNDS will work with children/young people, their families and school to see if an assessment for autism and/or ADHD is appropriate at this time or whether there may be other reasons (and other type of support needed) for the child’s social communication differences.

You can read more about the Manchester ND Service on the University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust’s (MFT) website, where you can also download the referral forms for the service. The MFT has also developed padlets where you can find even more information about the assessment process and help & support that’s available. There’s a padlet for parents and carers, and another one specifically for young people.

Please visit the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership website if you want to learn about the regional developments that brought about the changes to our local ADHD and autism assessment pathways.

Below are some articles and events on our website that are related to the Manchester Neurodevelopmental Service:

Under-5s – Parent/Carer Community Play Workshop

Under-5s – Parent/Carer Community Play Workshop

This workshop shares practical ideas you can try at home to support sensory regulation for children with social communication differences. It aims to improve parental and child wellbeing through play.

Understanding and Working with the Primary Education System (South Manchester)

Understanding and Working with the Primary Education System (South Manchester)

Delivered by educational psychologists, this session provides info about SEND, neurodiversity in education, and how children's needs can be met by schools.

Under-5s – Parent/Carer Eating Challenges Workshop

Under-5s – Parent/Carer Eating Challenges Workshop

This workshop looks at the reasons behind a limited diet, nutritional needs, the impact of sensory differences and ideas to try and increase the range of foods your child will try.

By Karen Woodhouse|2026-09-14T14:40:08+01:00November 20th, 2026|Categories: Information Sharing, Learning, Social Communication Pathway (SCP) Workshops, Under-5s Social Communication Pathway (SCP) Workshops, Workshop|Tags: autism, Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Early Years, eating challenges, Manchester Neurodevelopmental (ND) Service Workshops for Parents/Carers, Manchester Neurodevelopmental Service, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, needs-led model, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, Social Communication Pathway, Under-5s Neurodevelopmental Service Workshops for Parents/Carers, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Understanding Communication Differences (South Manchester)

Understanding Communication Differences (South Manchester)

This workshop aims to impart parents with language and communication strategies to use with their children.

Manchester ND Service Warm Welcome for Parents and Carers

Manchester ND Service Warm Welcome for Parents and Carers

This session is a relaxed opportunity to speak with the MPCF and neurodiversity navigator teams for community signposting, peer-to-peer support, and to share your views about what support would be helpful from the Social Communication Pathway's needs-led service. There will be some small activities

By Jordan @ MPCF|2026-08-28T11:55:07+01:00November 12th, 2026|Categories: Co-Production, Coffee Morning, Community, Social Communication Pathway, Support Group|Tags: Autism Navigator, Manchester Neurodevelopmental Service, Manchester Neurodevelopmental Service Warm Welcome, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, needs-led model, Neurodiversity Navigator, North Star Centre, Social Communication Pathway|

Understanding Sensory Differences (South Manchester)

Understanding Sensory Differences (South Manchester)

This workshop aims to impart parents and carers with information about sensory differences amongst neurodivergent people.

Under-5s – Parent/Carer Toilet Training Workshop

Under-5s – Parent/Carer Toilet Training Workshop

This workshop considers the particular challenges parents/carers can face when toilet training a child with social communication differences. Ideal for those with children aged 0 to 5 years.

Understanding Neurodiversity and Wellbeing (South Manchester)

Understanding Neurodiversity and Wellbeing (South Manchester)

This session discusses information around Neurodiversity, Mental Health and Well-being delivered by Clinical Psychologists and Mental Health Practitioners.

Understanding and Working with the Secondary-aged Education System (North Manchester)

Understanding and Working with the Secondary-aged Education System (North Manchester)

Delivered by educational psychologists, this session provides info about SEND, neurodiversity in education, and how children's needs can be met by schools.

Under-5s – Parent/Carer Eating Challenges Workshop

Under-5s – Parent/Carer Eating Challenges Workshop

This workshop looks at the reasons behind a limited diet, nutritional needs, the impact of sensory differences and ideas to try and increase the range of foods your child will try.