This issue of Child Psychology and Psychiatry Review is devoted to consideration of the new Needs Assessment Framework for children and families who are the concern of Social Services Departments, the new Youth Justice Assessment for children and young people who break the law, and the processes for the assessment of special educational needs. The new frameworks provide different professional approaches to children and should have a significant impact on the work of all professionals involved with children and families. In many cases the processes of all three areas should overlap and be integrated.