Eight in 10 children with autism find going to school so stressful that they experience anxiety, according to a survey.
And more than half (58 per cent) of those anxious children suffer from it so badly they miss days at school.
The charity Ambitious about Autism carried out the survey.
It has published a report, When Will We Learn?, looking at the impact of the school system when it fails children and young people with autism and their families. Many families are struggling to get the right support for their children and young people, who, as a result, are not receiving the education to which they are entitled.
Excluded from school
The survey also reveals:
- Children with autism are four times more likely to be permanently excluded from school than any other child
- 45 per cent of the families surveyed said that their child had been illegally sent home from school, put on a reduced timetable, sent home early or asked not to come in to school when tests or school trips were happening, denying them a full education.
- 71 per cent of parents of children with autism say that getting them the right support in school was so stressful it caused them to lose sleep.
Happier times: the Emerson family, including mum Louisa and her son Fred
No training or understanding
Louisa Emerson is the mother of Fred, who features in the report.
She said: “Fred had an Education, Health and Care Plan, but the people who should have been supporting him at school had no training or understanding of autism and, therefore, did not put his plan into place.
“There was also a reluctance to fund the support. I was forever being told they didn’t have the resources.
“Despite his diagnosis, we were threatened with exclusions on several occasions and this made Fred incredibly anxious.
Illegally excluded
“My son wasn’t getting the support he needed and this had consequences for him. There was an incident with another child and, as a result, he was illegally excluded for 20 days.
“He was taught in a small back room away from the others. Fred no longer felt safe at school.
“As parents you feel like you have to send your child to school. But we felt like we were sending him to be abused every day.”
She added: “This exclusion had a devastating effect on us all, but particularly on Fred – he refused to eat or leave the house. There was no-one to help us.
“In the end, we decided to change schools, but I had to leave my job; he has to be the priority. The experience has scarred me and I don’t trust schools anymore, which is awful.”
Unacceptable level of anxiety
Jolanta Lasota, chief executive of Ambitious about Autism, said: “Our survey shows that the education system is still not working for many children and young people with autism. It is unacceptable that eight out of 10 children with autism are experiencing anxiety about going to school every day.
“Every child has a fundamental right to an education. Yet 45 per cent of parents of children with autism say their children have, at some point, been illegally denied that right.
“Education is the key to transforming the lives of children and people with autism and early intervention, education and support are critical if children and young people with autism are to lead fulfilling lives and make a positive contribution to society.
“Children with autism must access an assessment faster and their needs should be met in an environment that is welcoming to and accepting of them, so they can succeed in education and enjoy their childhoods.”
Campaign aims
Ambitious about Autism’s When Will We Learn? campaign aims to ensure:
- Children with autism get the right start by making sure their educational needs are assessed promptly after diagnosis
- The needs of children with autism are met by having the right mix of services and support
- Schools are supported to do a great job by making sure everyone working in schools receives training to support children with autism
- The rights of children with autism are respected by preventing illegal exclusions and supporting school governors to fulfil their legal responsibility to children with autism.
Sign up to support the When Will We Learn? campaign by clicking here
- The When Will We Learn? online survey was carried out from 16 June until 1 September 2016 and 745 young people with autism, parents and carers completed the survey. Statistics in the When Will We Learn? campaign report came from Freedom of Information requests, research from other organisations and the Department for Education.
- This report is part of the joint ‘Every Child’ campaign; a partnership between Ambitious about Autism and the National Autistic Society.
Published: 18 October 2016
