Some Scots pupils with autism are ‘forced to fail’

Some pupils with autism in Scotland are forced to fail in mainstream education before receiving the necessary support, MSPS have heard.

Appearing before the education, children and young people committee at Holyrood yesterday, Suzi Martin, the external affairs manager for the National Autistic Society Scotland said the pace of progress on support for children needing more support has been too slow.

The Scottish Government released its additional support for learning action plan in October 2020.

Ms Martin welcomed the action plan, but said progress had been ”slow and it’s not created the change that we needed to see”.

“That’s very obvious still to this day because we hear from families that do not feel like their autistic child or young person is supported or included in the mainstream school environment,” she said.

“And we see continually autistic children and young people are forced to fail at mainstream before any other option or support is offered.

“And even still then families are forced to fight the system to get that support and many are forced into legal action and engaging a solicitor before a solution is found.

“Clearly something is not working and the system is not working for autistic children and young people when it comes to receiving their rights to an education.”

Ms Martin said three things would need to change to improve the situation, including improving the environment of schools, as well as ensuring more resources are given for specialist staff in mainstream schools.