This report by the National Autistic Society has found that one in four autistic children wait more than three years to receive the support they need at school, leaving families exhausted and on the edge of crisis.
Seventy-four percent of parents who were polled by the charity said their child’s school did not fully meet their needs – double the dissatisfaction levels four years ago in the charity’s last education report.
Parents also complained they faced lengthy battles trying to secure the right support for their child, with 57% reporting they had waited more than a year and 26% waiting more than three years.
The NAS school report, based on surveys of 4,000 parents, carers, autistic children and young people, also highlighted the impact of the pandemic on autistic children, with 44% of parents of the view their child has fallen behind with work and 59% concerned their child has become more socially isolated.
The charity says the education system is not working for autistic children in England and is calling on the government to take action in its special educational needs and disabilities (Send) review, which has been beset by delays.