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Autism

Volume 494: debated on Monday 15 June 2009

12. To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children diagnosed with autism are not excluded from mainstream education. (279170)

I have made it clear that schools should actively avoid permanently excluding children with SEN other than in the most exceptional circumstances. This includes children with autism whose disability often results in challenging behaviour. We have reduced exclusions of children with SEN because schools are intervening early and providing targeted support and we have accepted all Sir Alan Steer's recent recommendations to support and challenge local authorities with disproportionate high exclusions of children with SEN including those with autism.