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.

The University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) runs FREE workshops for parents and carers of children aged 3-5 years who have an autism diagnosis or who are currently on the waiting list for assessment. You can learn about and book for these workshops by accessing the relevant event page(s) listed below.

We recently co-produced with the MFT, RHOSEY, and other parents & local partners a resource that contains useful information and advice for children in the Early Years (age 0 to 5). It’s called FRED (Family Resources for Early Development), which you can access here.

The MFT has also developed a padlet where you can find even more information about the assessment process and help & support that’s available for families of Early Years children. Visit this link to open the padlet.

Below are some articles and events on our website that are related to the SCP workshops for parents/carers of Early Years children:

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Community Play Workshop

Under-5s SCP – 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.

By Karen Woodhouse|2026-01-16T17:09:31+00:00July 6th, 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, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, play, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, sensory integration needs, Social Communication Pathway, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Community Play Workshop

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Community Play Workshop

By Karen Woodhouse|2026-01-16T17:06:49+00:00March 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, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, play, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, sensory integration needs, Social Communication Pathway, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Sensory Workshop

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Sensory Workshop

This workshop will develop your understanding of the sensory system. It considers how neurodivergent individuals may experience sensory differences.

By Karen Woodhouse|2025-12-15T16:33:09+00:00February 6th, 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, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, sensory processing, Social Communication Pathway, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Eating Challenges Workshop

Under-5s SCP – 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|2026-01-16T17:17:02+00:00February 4th, 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 University NHS Foundation Trust, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, Social Communication Pathway, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Community Play Workshop

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Community Play Workshop

By Karen Woodhouse|2026-01-16T17:10:20+00:00February 3rd, 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, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, play, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, sensory integration needs, Social Communication Pathway, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Toilet Training Workshop

Under-5s SCP – 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.

By Karen Woodhouse|2026-01-13T09:49:44+00:00January 27th, 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, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, Social Communication Pathway, toilet training, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Sensory Workshop

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Sensory Workshop

This workshop will develop your understanding of the sensory system. It considers how neurodivergent individuals may experience sensory differences.

By Karen Woodhouse|2025-12-15T16:11:04+00:00January 23rd, 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, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, sensory processing, Social Communication Pathway, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Sensory Workshop

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Sensory Workshop

This workshop will develop your understanding of the sensory system. It considers how neurodivergent individuals may experience sensory differences.

By Jordan @ MPCF|2025-11-21T13:51:12+00:00December 2nd, 2025|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, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, sensory processing, Social Communication Pathway, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Community Play Workshop

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Community Play 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.

By Jordan @ MPCF|2025-11-21T13:54:32+00:00November 27th, 2025|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, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, play, SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers, sensory integration needs, Social Communication Pathway, Under-5s SCP Workshops for Parents and Carers|

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Eating Challenges Workshop CANCELLED

Under-5s SCP – Parent/Carer Eating Challenges Workshop CANCELLED

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.