I will have to look into the timings but my youngest who is 4 had his statement completed and sent to panel, just before the end of summer term in July. I was told the whole process can take upto 6 months but I'm sure this is just a guideline.
From personal experience, there is always hope.
My eldest, now 6, had speech delay and when he was about 2 years old, I requested he be seen by SALT (Speech & Language Therapy) at the Siward Road Children's Centre. This happened fairly quickly and he was then referred to a Developmental Paediatrician (having had a hearing test to rule that out, although I had no concerns).
He continued with speech & language therapy, as being so young they agreed there was some developmental delay but it didn't occur to me at this point, and it was not mentioned, that he would have ASD.
His final diagnosis came when he was 4 and I worried terribly about sending him into the schooling system, knowing very litte about the help provided, Statementing or even knowing if he would be able to attend a mainstream school. He also continued with OT (Occupational Therapy) and began to make some great improvements with their help and with his natural development.
I searched and searched for the right school but finally chose the one local to us, which faired well in the Ofsted report but more importantly had a good 'feel' to it and he voiced his own wish to go there. The SENCO was very empathetic and once his statement was confirmed, he was appointed a classroom assistant. It was hard the first few weeks as he had been used to a small private nursery, where he was afforded a lot of 1:1 attention and help. However, to cut the story short, he as come along leaps and bounds, although help is still needed in particular with social stories, to help him cope and make friends, which is proving slow but in the right direction.
My youngest, who is 4, displayed similar signs of speech delay and developmental delay, so I went straight to the SALT team and requested his observation, which was swiftly followed by a full assessment and then the Developmental Paediatrician, who finally assessed ASD two months ago with possible leanings towards being Aspergers and hyperactivity. The added labels are now being avoided, she advised me, so that a label of ASD is given and each child will be treated in bespoke fashion, depending on his or her abilities, areas of difficulty.
I remain hopeful and even positive about Autism as I try to shift my brain into thinking of their strengths, rather than their weaknesses. By reading and Googling regularly for any information out there or research findings, together with opening my mind towards more holistic and complimentary routes for coping or easing some of the more difficult anxieties.
The support from this site and the knowledge that there are so many mothers out there who struggle hourly, daily and with the whole insurmountable amount of work involved in caring for a child with ASD. Keeping them safe, happy and able to live to their best abilities is a good place to start and not to forget that us mums have special needs too, which need to find an outlet and I, personally, find sharing stories is very cathartic and keeps me proactive. I have avoided face to face group meetings so far but am open to possibly having to reach out further, in due course.
I am in the process of writing a book, which is a personal story but adding in the enormous amount of information I have received from various sources, in the hope I will find some strength in putting it out there, and maybe being of help to others.
Hope my story is of some help x