Health checks to find out if your child needs extra help

Scans, checks and reviews can find out if your baby has a health condition, special educational needs or a disability.

Tests during pregnancy

You’ll be offered screening tests during pregnancy to make sure you and your baby are as well as possible. These tests can find out if your baby may have conditions such as Down's Syndrome and spina bifida.

It's up to you to choose if you want to have screening tests. Contact your GP or midwife for more information.

Reviews for babies and young children

When your baby is born, you will be offered tests to check their eyes, heart and hips, and, for male babies, their testicles .

You’ll be offered regular health and development reviews by the Health Child Programme team, for your baby from birth until they are 2 years old.

As your newborn baby grows, health professionals will review their eyes, heart, hips, movement, growth, vision, hearing, speech, language, behaviour, social skills and emotional development.

When your child is 2 to 3 years old specialists, called early years practitioners, will review your child’s child’s communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development.

If your child needs extra help

If a health professional thinks your child has a special educational need or disability (SEND) they will work with other health professionals to develop a plan to support your child.

Get support for your child if they have SEND and find out about support from childcare providers, schools and colleges.

More information

Read the NHS baby and child development guide, which explains when you can expect your child to learn new skills and abilities.

For advice and support contact your GP or register with a doctor's surgery if you haven't got a GP.

You can also get support with child and family health at one of the local children's centres.