UPDATE (August 2026): Following the changes to Greater Manchester’s neurodevelopmental pathways, the Social Communication Pathway will now be replaced by the Manchester Neurodevelopmental (ND) Service. Please visit manchesterparentcarerforum.org.uk/tag/manchester-neurodevelopmental-service for more information.

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The Social Communication Pathway (SCP) is the local autism assessment service in Manchester. The SCP team is a multi-agency team which assesses social communication difficulties in children and young people living in Manchester. If a young person or their family thinks they might be autistic, this team will make an assessment to see if they meet the criteria for a diagnosis of Autism.

You can read more about the SCP on the University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust’s (MFT) website. They also have an FAQs document that you can download.

There is also a new Social Communication Pathway for Early Years children (i.e., those aged 5 years or younger) that was piloted in South Manchester in 2022-2024. You can read about that here: http://manchesterparentcarerforum.org.uk/the-early-years-social-communication-pathway/
The Early Years SCP pilot has shown a number of positive outcomes so we are hoping that it will get implemented across Manchester someday.

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.

Below are some articles and events on our website that are related to the SCP:

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.