Autism (Hansard, 29 October 1998)

§ Dr. Kumar
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that every local education authority is ensuring that all parents of children with autism fulfil their statutory obligations of ensuring that their child receives an efficient and suitable full-time education either at school or otherwise by taking action through the courts; and if he will make a statement. [57055]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 specifies that the parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive full-time education suitable:
(a) to his/her age, ability and aptitude, and

(b) to any special educational needs he/she may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
Schools and LEAs are also under a duty to identify children with special educational needs, including those with autistic spectrum disorders, and to make provision which meet the needs of individual children. In doing so, schools and LEAs must have regard to the statutory guidance contained in the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs.
Where the authority is of the opinion that the child should attend school an LEA must by law serve a School Attendance Order (SAO) on the parent of a child of compulsory school age who fails to prove that the child is receiving suitable education.

§ Dr. Kumar
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that every child with autism receives a relevant educational service; and if he will make a statement. [57050]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
In practice, a child with autistic spectrum disorder is likely to be assessed as having special educational needs. The Education Act 1996 section 317 specifies that the Local Education Authority or governing body shall use their best endeavours, in exercising their function in relation to the school, to secure that, if any registered pupil has special educational needs, the special educational provision which his or her learning difficulty calls for is made.

§ Dr. Kumar
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that every parent of a child of compulsory school age with autism is ensuring that their child receives an efficient and suitable full-time education either at school or otherwise; and if he will make a statement. [57054]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 specifies that the parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive full-time education suitable:
(a) to his/her age, ability and aptitude, and

(b) to any special educational needs he/she may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
Schools and LEAs are also under a duty to identify children with special educational needs, including those with autistic spectrum disorders, and to make provision which meet the needs of individual children. In doing so, schools and LEAs must have regard to the statutory 229W guidance contained in the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs.

§ Dr. Kumar
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to issue specific guidance on educational services for autistic children; and if he will make a statement. [57052]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
Guidance on educational services for children with autistic spectrum disorder is available on request from local education authorities. Information can also be obtained from the National Autistic Society.

§ Dr. Kumar
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that every local education authority has sufficient funds to develop new services for autistic children; and if he will make a statement. [57053]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
Each year the Government set out what it considers a reasonable and affordable level of spending on education, and ensures funding to local authorities for that amount. Education is a key priority for this Government. For financial year 1998–99, national funding for education is £1,107 million, or 5.7 per cent. higher than for 1997–98. The Comprehensive Spending Review will provide an increase of almost £10 billion a year by 2001–2002, an average increase of 5.1 per cent. in real terms in each of the next three years. Each local education authority is responsible for allocating its budget between and within services. In doing so it must secure that sufficient schools are available to provide the opportunity of appropriate education for all pupils, including those with special educational needs such as autistic spectrum disorder.

§ Mr. Loughton
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures his Department is taking to ensure that LEAs make appropriate provision for individual children with autism. [56639]

§ Mr. Charles Clarke
[holding answer 26 October 1998]: The Education Act 1996 places schools and local education authorities under a duty to identify children with special educational needs, including those with autistic spectrum disorders, and to make appropriate provision for them. In doing so, schools and LEAs must have regard to statutory guidance contained in the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs.
In the case of spectrum disorders like autism, provision can be made in specialist autism schools, other special schools, autism units at mainstream schools or in mainstream classes with support.