Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that children and young people with autism have access to (a) tailored support and (b) empowering learning environments.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to achieve and thrive in their education and as they move into adult life.

In November 2024, the department established the Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group, which includes clinicians, scientists, academics, education experts and third sector organisations. The group will make recommendations on the best ways to support and meet the needs of neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream education settings, including those with autism.

The Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme is a national programme, backed by £22 million of investment. PINS deploys specialists from both health and education workforces to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children. In the 2024/25 financial year, PINS delivered to over 1650 mainstream primary schools. In the 2025/26 financial year, PINS will be extended to a further cohort of around 1,200 mainstream primary schools.