The NAHT has welcomed suggestions by an all-party parliamentary group to help improve services for children with autism.
Recommendations by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Autism (APPGA) include:
-
A lead teacher for autism in every school with the relevant knowledge and training
-
An action plan for every child with autism (including those without statements/Education, Health and Care plans)
-
A guarantee of support up to the age of 25 so that young people with special educational needs (SEN) can become independent adults (including those not in Further Education).
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the NAHT, said: “Members of the NAHT’s Special Educational Needs committee were pleased to give evidence to the APPGA earlier this year. We endorse the group’s recommendations and the recognition of the challenges facing parents and teachers of children with special needs.
“Ensuring that schools have in-house access to a trained teacher who can advise on planning the right level of care for children with autism will improve education for both children and schools. Supporting children with a multi-agency action plan should also help build on the foundations of their parents’ own care. We hope it will also help to make raising a special needs child a less lonely and bewildering experience for many families.”
The APPGA report, The right start: reforming the system for children with autism, follows the APPGA’s public survey earlier this year. For more information or a copy of the report, please contact Andrew Willard by emailing andrew.willard@nas.org.uk or call 0207 9033545.
Page Published: 14/06/2012
