PACA MK is an independent and voluntary group of parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities or additional needs.

The group is open to parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 years old with disabilities or additional needs who live in the city of Milton Keynes.

PACA MK is organised by a committee of parents and carers and has a steering group which meets regularly. 
 

They have developed a workbook "supporting your neurodiverse child" you can down load it here:
Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child - PACA MK

PACA MK works in collaboration with service providers in health, education, social care and leisure services in Milton Keynes. Our aim is to fully include parents and carers in the development and improvement of local services.

You can have your say at our meetings; at events; on the phone; or by email.

Sign up to become member HERE

MK Special Educational Needs and Disability Service (SENDIAS) is a statutory service offering confidential and impartial information, advice and support to children and young people with additional needs and their parents/carers. The remit of SENDIAS covers education, health and social care between the ages of 0 - 25.

Please find more information on their website. 

Autism Bedfordshire is an independent charity whose aim is to improve the quality of life for autistic children, young people and adults and their families. Our specific objectives are to:

• Reduce social isolation and improve psychological wellbeing for autistic people and their families.
• Reduce stress for parents/carers and improve their ability to cope with and manage the complex difficulties of their autistic children
• Improve awareness, knowledge and understanding about autism amongst families, professionals and the wider community.

Please find more information on their website. 

The National Autistic Society (NAS) is the leading charity in the UK dedicated to supporting autistic individuals and their families. They provide a wide range of services, including advice, guidance, and advocacy, to help create a society that works for autistic people. Their efforts include raising awareness, campaigning for rights, and offering resources for education, employment, and social inclusion. Please find more information about the National Autistic Society on their website

Healthier Together - a Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes Initiative

This website provides young people, parents and pregnant women across Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes with consistent and high-quality advice from local health professionals.

You'll find clear information on common childhood illnesses, including advice on what 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required and how long your child's symptoms are likely to last.

Healthier Together is a partnership project which continues to grow by putting children, young people and familes needs at the heart of the website.

Information from the Healthier Together website. 

From 3 August 2026, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) introduced a new referral pathway for children and young people who require an autism and/or ADHD assessment.

Diagnostic assessment services currently provided by Community Paediatrics and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have been brought together into a single integrated service called SHINE (Specialist Hub for Integrated Neurodevelopmental Evaluation).

SHINE is supported by a new Single Point of Access (SPA) and a digital referral process.

Any referrals submitted through the previous pathway before 2nd August 2026 will be transferred to the new pathway. Any time already spent on waiting lists will be recognised and carried forward.

Who can make a referral?

Referrals can be made by:

• GPs
• Health professionals, including health visitors and speech and language therapists
• Community and hospital paediatricians
• CAMHS clinicians
• Nursery and school SENCos
• Social workers

Parental consent is required before a referral is made.

Information for schools

This change affects all schools in Milton Keynes.

Only Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) can submit referrals. However, teaching staff may be asked to complete questionnaires during the information-gathering stage of the process.

Age criteria

The age range for referrals remains unchanged:

• Children and young people aged 2 to 17 years

New referral process

Step 1: Referral request

Professionals must submit an online referral request through the SHINE professionals webpage.

Information required includes:

• Child or young person's details
• Reason for referral
• Parent or carer contact details
• Nursery or school details
• GP details
• Any interpreter requirements

Professional referral form:
https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/shine/professional-certification

Step 2: Information gathering and triage

The SPA Hub will send digital information packs to:

• GPs
• Parents and carers
• Young people aged 12 and over (where appropriate)
• Education settings

All information must be returned within two weeks.

Once the information has been received, clinicians will review the referral and determine the next steps. Families and GPs will be informed of the outcome.

What makes a good referral?

Providing clear and detailed information helps clinicians make informed decisions. Useful information includes:

• Clear examples of developmental concerns
• Relevant developmental, medical, family and social history
• Nursery, school and specialist reports
• Details of support already in place

Find out more

For further information about SHINE:

• Telephone: 0800 0234 650
• Email: cnwl.cypndspa@nhs.net
• Website: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/shine

The SHINE webpage will be available from 3 August 2026.