If your child has a learning disability, it’s important they get the right help and support so they can live their best life. Organisations like the NHS are here to help.

If your child is on the Learning Disability Register, they will be able to get extra health support from your Doctor (GP) Practice. This also includes an Annual Health Check from the age of 14 onwards.

This information is to help you have a talk with your Doctor (GP) about your concerns and if your child should be on the Learning Disability Register.

What is the Learning Disability Register?

The Learning Disability Register is for babies, children, young people and adults who have a learning disability and are registered at their local GP practice.

The register lets the health staff at the (Doctor) GP practice know that a person has a learning disability and that the person may need reasonable adjustments.

Some examples of reasonable adjustments are:

• offering longer appointments
• having a quiet room waiting room
• information in easy read or large print
• having a carer or support worker attend
• having a choice of a face to face or virtual appointment

What are the benefits of being on the Learning Disability Register?

Your child will be able to get:

• an Annual Health Check from the age of 14 and older
• a Health Action Plan
• NHS Flu vaccine
• NHS COVID-19 vaccine

If you are their main carer, you should also be registered as a carer, to make sure that you can support them to attend appointments or to talk professionals on their behalf.

• you may also be entitled to a free NHS carer’s health check

What is a learning disability?

There are three things which help the Doctor (GP) decide if someone has a learning disability.

These could be:

• if your child is less able to understand new information and to learn new skills
• they are less able to cope independently than those without a learning disability
• this started before the age of 18 years old

What is the difference from a learning disability and a learning difficulty?

A person with a learning difficulty struggles in usually one area of learning. For example, they can have dyslexia or other conditions and may struggle with reading or writing, spelling or maths. Dyslexia, for example is a general disability and is not a learning disability.

If your child is Autistic but does not have a learning disability, they are unable to have an Annual Health Check, though this may change in the future.

Questions to help you think if your child could have a learning disability

If you answer yes to some of the questions below, it’s really important you contact your Doctor (GP) practice and ask them if your child could or should be on their Doctor’s (GP’s) Learning Disability Register. This can be done at any age.

• is your child on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Support Register?
• does your child attend a special school?
• does your child have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?
• do you have any reports about your child which say that your child has a learning disability, intellectual disability or global development delay?
• is your child entitled to Personal Independence Payment (this used to be called Disability Living Allowance)?

If you have any letters or documents which say your child has a learning disability, intellectual disability, or global development delay, bring some of these with you.

If your Doctor (GP) can’t decide, your Doctor (GP) may want to ask for help from another health professional.

If they agree that your child would benefit from being added to their Doctor (GP) practice’s Learning Disability Register, you can be noted as their carer.

What should I do if I think my child has a learning disability?

If you think your child may have a learning disability, you can book an appointment to talk to your Doctor (GP). You can take this leaflet and show it to your Doctor (GP) practice.

Where can I get further information?

If you have any questions about services available for your child, you can contact:

• your local council
• your nursery, school or college Special Educational Needs and Disabilities co-ordinator
• your social worker or local carers group may also be able to help

Access the Mencap document about getting on the GP Learning disability register.

Access more information about annual health checks for young people with a learning disability and their families and carers.

You can get in touch with ‘contact’ who are a charity for families of people who have a disability.

Call them: 0808 808 3555

Or visit their website.