When should I refer a child with cerebral palsy to a specialist for further evaluation or intervention?

Refer children with suspected cerebral palsy to a child development service for an urgent multidisciplinary assessment if they have abnormal motor features such as unusual fidgety movements, abnormalities of tone, abnormal motor development, or feeding difficulties ².

Refer all children with delayed motor milestones, such as not sitting by 8 months or not walking by 18 months, to a child development service for further assessment ¹.

Refer children who have persistent toe walking to a child development service for further assessment ².

If there are concerns that a child may have cerebral palsy but a definitive diagnosis cannot be made, discuss this with parents or carers and explain that an enhanced clinical and developmental follow-up programme will be necessary to reach a diagnosis ².