§ Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether the Department for Education and Skills will sponsor research to establish minimum standards of provision for the education of children with autism spectrum disorders, and [HL4906]
§ How schools are monitored in relation to their work with children with autism spectrum disorders, and [HL4907]
§ What is their policy on the role of autism-specific special schools in providing advice and support to mainstream schools educating children with autism. [HL4908]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)Schools and local education authorities have duties to identify and make provision for the learning difficulties of children with special educational needs, including those with autistic spectrum disorders, and to give them access to a broad curriculum suitable to their needs. The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice gives statutory guidance on how to achieve this. The Department for Education and Skills' Autism Working Group will shortly be publishing guidance setting out the key principles underpinning proper provision for children with autistic spectrum disorders and pointers to good practice. This guidance takes into account the work of the West Midlands SEN Regional Partnership, which has been focusing on autism provision, and the National Autistic Society's Accreditation Programme. The working group intends to monitor the response to its guidance.
Ofsted has a regular cycle of inspection of maintained schools, non-maintained special schools and independent schools which cater wholly or mainly for children with SEN, including schools which make provision for children with autistic spectrum disorders. In determining their judgments, Ofsted inspectors have to consider the extent to which pupils with SEN are making progress and how well the teaching meets pupils' diverse needs. Ofsted will also be monitoring the implementation of the revised SEN Code of Practice and the new Inclusion framework. Special schools, including autism-specific special schools, have a vital role to play in the new arrangements through using their expertise to help mainstream schools include children with SEN. I have established a working group on the role special schools which will look at how to develop this aspect of special schools' work.
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
Flow many children with autism spectrum disorders were subject to (a) permanent exclusion from school; and (b) fixed term exclusion from school, in the academic year 2000–2001.[HL4909]
46WA
§ Baroness Ashton of UphollandThe department does not collect data on exclusions by specific type of special educational need.