§ Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that local education authorities provide sufficient appropriate special school places for children who suffer from autism and other forms of early childhood psychosis. [29085]
§ Mr. ForthI have been asked to reply.
The assessment of children with autism and early childhood psychosis and the identification of a suitable school for them is the responsibility of the local education authority in whose area they live. The appropriate school for such children will not always be a special school. It may be a mainstream school or in a specialist unit attached to a mainstream school.