I agree that early support for children with autism and their parents or guardians is deeply important to ensuring the best possible outcomes for all involved. Ensuring that schools put the right support in place for children with autism should be a key priority. Sadly due to parliamentary commitments I was unable to visit Alfie and his family on the 20th March.
In Scotland, education is a devolved issue, and so the Scottish Government and local councils are responsible for ensuring that schools deliver for children with autism and their parents or guardians. As this is a devolved issue, the report from the APPG focuses solely on autism and education in England.
Unfortunately, there are major discrepancies between Scottish council areas in the proportion of pupils identified with additional support needs such as autism, indicating that, in Scotland, this issue is something of a postcode lottery.
This is emblematic of a wider problem with Scotland’s education system, which has struggled under SNP rule. There is now a severe teacher shortage across Scotland – over the last three years, Scottish councils have been forced to readvertise as many as 2,275 positions. Likewise, Scotland’s education system has been dropping down international rankings.
I hope that the Scottish Government changes course as soon as possible and focusses on addressing the problems in the education system, including ensuring that children with autism in all parts of Scotland get the support they need from their schools.