The Dynamic Support Register is a statutory tool used by local areas to identify autistic children and young people (and adults) who are at risk of crisis, hospital admission, or placement breakdown.
It exists to make sure the right agencies come together early, share responsibility, and put support in place before things escalate.
The DSR is part of the national Transforming Care and Building the Right Support framework. Every area must maintain one.
What Do the Colours Mean?
The DSR uses a colour‑coding system to show the level of risk and urgency:
🟢 Green – At Risk of Escalation
A child or young person is struggling, but with the right support they can remain safely in their current setting.
Examples:
- Needs are increasing
- School placement becoming fragile
- Early signs of distress or behaviour changes
- Support not meeting need but no immediate crisis
Green means: monitor closely and put early help in place.
🟠 Amber – High Risk of Crisis or Placement Breakdown
The situation is deteriorating and without coordinated intervention, crisis is likely.
Examples:
- School placement on the brink of breakdown
- Significant unmet need
- Family under severe strain
- Risk of exclusion or part‑time timetables
- Multi‑agency support required urgently
Amber means: intensive support and multi‑agency planning must happen now.
🔴 Red – Immediate Risk of Hospital Admission or Breakdown
The child or young person is in crisis or very close to it.
Examples:
- Severe distress or behaviours that challenge
- No safe or suitable placement
- Imminent risk of admission to a mental health unit
- Breakdown in home or school placement
Red means: urgent, coordinated crisis response.
🔵 Blue – Currently Inpatient
The child or young person is already in a mental health hospital or inpatient setting.
Blue ensures they remain visible to the local area and that planning for discharge is active and ongoing.
When Should a Child or Young Person Go on the DSR?
A child or young person should be added to the DSR when:
- They are autistic (diagnosed or suspected)
- They are at risk of crisis, hospital admission, or placement breakdown
- Their needs are not being met by current support
- There is multi‑agency involvement or a need for coordinated planning
- They are already in an inpatient setting (automatically Blue)
You do NOT need an EHCP to be on the DSR.
You do NOT need a formal autism diagnosis.
Parents can request their child be added.
Being on the DSR is not a label it is a safeguard. It ensures the system cannot ignore a child who is heading toward crisis.
The DSR doesn’t automatically feed into the EHCP process but it is one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can have when requesting an EHC needs assessment.
It shows:
- unmet needs
- risk
- multi‑agency concern
- insufficient current support
- need for coordinated planning
All of which support the legal test for an EHCNA. “may have SEN” & “may require SEP”
You may find this resource invaluable: GUIDANCE: The SEN Process Prior To EHCP – SEN Parent Support Group and GUIDANCE: What To Do During The EHCP Process – SEN Parent Support Group
For peer support join us in our closed Facebook group or for Mentor Support on a1:1 book here
For all other resources and other informative blogs within our SEN Journal – see below:
All Things EHCP
- LETTER: LA Failure To Notify If Issuing the plan
- RESOURCE: Moving Local Authorities
- LETTER: Mediation Agreement – LA agreed to issue/amend EHCP but hasn’t provided draft within 5 weeks
- LETTER: Refusal To Assess Won and LA Not Notified of EP Assessment Within 2 wk Timeframe
- LETTER: To LA – After Tribunal – Refusal to Issue. No Draft plan within 5 week timeframe.
Attendance, Exclusions & Sanctions
Complaints
- LETTER – Enforcing Interim Education S43 with LA + Escalation Letter + Tribunal Request
- LETTER: To School When Whole School Approach To Adjustments Is Not Applied Consistently (IEP or EHCP)
- RESOURCE: LGO Outcomes
- LETTER: Right to Choose Rejection 3 Step Complaints Letters
- RESOURCE: Core Deficit Supporting Tool
