Children and Young People's Neurodevelopment Support Fund 2026-2027: supporting guidance

Introduction

In June 2025, COSLA and the Scottish Government jointly published the review of the implementation of the Children and Young People’s Neurodevelopmental Specification. This acknowledged a range of challenges in the delivery of the Specification, including increasing demand for neurodevelopmental (ND) support and diagnosis, staffing across sectors, ownership of the specification and clarity of the roles of partners in its delivery, and communication, e.g. between teams, schools, and services. Also acknowledged were whole system funding pressures where beyond a small number of short life tests of change, funding has historically been directed towards health.

The review highlighted the importance of a needs-led, holistic and neuro-affirming approach, delivered across sectors and not dependent on diagnosis. It also outlined a number of actions, including the development of a high-level descriptor outlining the roles of different services in supporting neurodivergent children and young people and exploring the role of family support, recognising the value of this and the diverse range of non-clinical support that may meet a neurodivergent child’s needs. Work to progress these actions is being undertaken by the children and young people’s neurodevelopmental taskforce.

The provision of this funding sits in the context of this wider improvement work.

The Scottish Budget 2026/2027 included provisions for new funding for improvements to neurodevelopmental assessment and care for children and young people. From this new funding, the Children and Young People’s Neurodevelopment Support Fund is intended to support delivery of improved, new and expanded supports and services that meet the neurodevelopmental needs of children, young people and families. It is proposed that this funding is used flexibly with a focus on neuro-affirming holistic, needs-based support.