MPs debate the provision of education for children with autism

On 17 July MPs took part in a debate in the House of Commons on the provision of education for children with autism.

Gordon Birtwistle, MP for Burnley, led the debate. He referred to:

‘the horrifying ongoing struggles…that children with autism face in getting appropriate education. As a result of poor local provision and unofficial exclusions, thousands of children with autism do not access full-time education. If a young person’s needs are not understood or met, that has both short and long-term implications, which…can be severe’.

Mr Birtwistle went on to discuss three of his constituents, one case concerning a 17 year old, Chloe. He said:

“Chloe is now on suicide watch as a result of repeatedly being failed by Lancashire county council since the age of 11. The detrimental impact of Chloe’s lack of education and development as an individual is clear. She was threatened with exclusion from her mainstream school placements up to the age of 13, when she was finally diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. Children with statements of special educational needs are eight times more likely to be excluded than their peers…When Chloe was 14 her family was advised that she would receive a statutory assessment of her educational needs. Lancashire county council failed to undertake this, despite it being recommended by professionals and her parents’ insistence. It took years – not weeks or months, but years – for Lancashire county council’s educational psychologist…to assess Chloe. After a 20-minute consultation (the educational psychologist) disagreed with the findings of experienced psychologists who had spent prolonged periods with her and it was recommended that she be placed in a pupil referral unit, rather than the specialist school recommended by the professionals. Lancashire county council disregarded this and even the advice of the head of the pupil referral unit, who thought it was not suitable for Chloe. As a teenager Chloe was passed from pillar to post, with a total lack of accurate assessment. Lancashire county council let her down. Chloe felt worthless and rejected. That led her to self-harm and to suffer from depression. She has ended up in a specialist psychiatric unit on suicide watch. Her brothers have had to watch her attempt to hang herself in the family home. Chloe is now emotionally and mentally damaged. Without question, missing out on education leads to poor life outcomes for the child involved and for their families. Chloe’s mum is one of the 50% of parents of disabled children who say they have had to take up part-time work as a result of their child’s exclusion. Chloe is a very sad case”.

Watch the full debate (fast forward to 3.35pm).

Laxmi Patel, Education solicitor at Boyes Turner comments:

“An interesting debate but one which parents of children with disabilities already know. Time and time again children are not assessed, and even when assessed are not given the support they need. We have had numerous cases of children being misunderstood and labelled ‘naughty’. These children are often placed in a pupil referral units – the wrong type of placement. Sadly the case of Chloe is not unusual”.