Context
The MP is concerned about the lack of classroom support for children with autism due to per-pupil funding cuts and high staff workloads, impacting schools' ability to provide necessary services such as speech and language therapy.
Question
What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Education to improve classroom support for children with autism. After a decade of per-pupil funding cuts and with staff workloads soaring, mainstream schools are too often unable to provide places for children with special educational needs and disabilities, including children in my constituency who are unable to access speech and language therapy sessions. Does the Minister think that is acceptable, and what is she going to do about it?
Answer from Michelle Donelan
The SEND—special educational needs and disabilities—and alternative provision Green Paper aims to create a more inclusive education system to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. We are providing nearly £12 million to help the schools and further education workforce to support children with SEND, including autism, ensuring that their needs are met early and effectively. This Government are investing £74 million in the first year alone of our autism strategy to promote a straightforward route to diagnosis and the correct support, and we will shortly be detailing our implementation plan for year two.
Not addressed: The specific issue of per-pupil funding cuts and high workloads was not directly addressed in terms of concrete actions or timelines.
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