High-performing special schools should be supported to become centres of excellence for autistic pupils, according to a special inquiry report from the House of Lords.
And more help should be given to mainstream schools so that they can give autistic students the support they need to succeed.
The findings come in a report from a House of Lords special inquiry committee on the Autism Act 2009, which was published at the weekend.
It said that a new autism strategy, to replace one due to expire next July, must focus on improving outcomes for children and young people with autism, and report on progress.
It must also have input from autistic people. The report said: “Too often, decisions about autistic people’s lives are made for them, not by them. This must change.”
Unequal access to education
The Lords said that autistic children do not have equal access to education. “Thousands are unhappy at school or out of school altogether, with many families turning to home education in desperation,” the report found.
“The government must build up capability for educating autistic children and young people across all types of educational provision, supporting high-performing specialist schools to act as centres of excellence.”
The Schools White Paper, which will set out plans for the future of SEND, has been delayed until the new year to allow time for proposals to be tested, but it is known that Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, favours greater emphasis on inclusion in mainstream education.
The government must set realistic goals, make a plan to deliver them, monitor progress and work together with autistic people
The Lords report notes that most autistic children attend mainstream schools, and that the number of autistic pupils in schools has increased rapidly in recent years.
Other recommendations for education include:
- investing in driving down assessment waiting times while developing and scaling up models for identification, assessment and life-long support
- enabling local authorities and NHS bodies to provide service for young people during the transition to adulthood, bringing together support with education, employment, housing and mental health
- building up capacity for educating autistic children across all types of provision
Supporting diverse learners
The peers’ report also backed calls for teachers and school support staff to “have the expertise, training and confidence to support diverse learners, underpinned by regular access to embedded specialist professionals”.
Baroness Rock, chair of the Autism Act 2009 Committee, said: “Our report draws on their evidence to set out a path to addressing the needs and aspirations of autistic people through the new autism strategy.
“To make the new strategy a success, the government must set realistic goals, make a plan to deliver them, monitor progress and work together with autistic people and those who support them to build change.
“The government must now use our findings to fulfil its commitment to bring forward the new autism strategy on time in July 2026.”
