Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed has backed the National Autistic Society and Ambitious About Autism campaign, Held Back, to ensure the Government introduces a national autism and educational strategy. She has written to the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds MP urging them to take action to make sure the 120,000 school-aged children on the autism spectrum in England are no longer held back.
The open letter to the Secretary of State for Education was handed to Damian Hinds MP at a reception in Parliament on 31 January, with Anne-Marie in attendance. The letter is in response to an autism and education report which was launched in November 2017 by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA) alongside the National Autistic Society.
The APPGA report was published following an inquiry, which included a survey of over 3,000 parents, carers, young people and teachers, as well as expert witness evidence sessions in Parliament. The findings, which came three years after the Government introduced a new special educational needs and disability (SEND) system in England, showed that the education system was still failing to meet the needs of autistic children and young people.
Anne-Marie said:
“I’m proud to back the National Autistic Society and Ambitious About Autism’s Held Back campaign. I have spoken with constituents and heard personal accounts from families who are still struggling to secure the right school provision and education support for their autistic child.
“Over 20,000 people have signed this open letter to the Secretary of State for Education, demonstrating just how important this is. We must ensure all autistic children receive the education they deserve. I also spoke in a debate in the House of Commons on Autism this week, calling for a cross departmental board, like we have for the Armed Forces Covenant, to drive through policies across Government and I look forward to working on this in the coming days, weeks and months.”
Mark Lever, Chief Executive at the National Autistic Society, said:
“Autistic children and young people in England are being let down and held back by the education system and this is putting an unnecessary strain on often already vulnerable children and their families.
“The Government must make sure councils are following the law and hold failing local areas to account. Additionally, the Government must develop a national autism and education strategy to make sure that the right type of school and support is available near where you live as standard, not because of luck and make sure the education system as a whole understands autism.”