On 18th May, the APPG for Education and APPG for Autism held a joint meeting with Sarah Teather MP, Minister for Children and Families, and Sharon Hodgson MP, Shadow Minister for Schools and Families.

Sarah Teather MP emphasised the importance of making provision the best it can be, as one in one hundred people is on the Autism Spectrum, and hoped that the proposed system in the SEN Green Paper is more humane.

With Dame Claire Tickell, she is working towards earlier diagnosis, through measures such as increasing the number of health visitors by 4,200, increasing information flow between service agencies, and focusing on three indicators: speech, language and communications difficulties; physical difficulties; and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

The second major overhaul will be in order to create a joined-up service offering, with all authorities (health, social services and education) involved in diagnosing, one clearly identified person or organisation responsible for ongoing delivery and monitoring, and provision extended to 25.

She also emphasised a shift in mindset, making provision more outcomes-focused rather than education-focused, with goals defined in terms of the progress the individual and family unit will make holistically rather than solely based on school achievement.

Sharon Hodgson MP answered questions on whether bureaucracy prevents innovation in the teacher training curriculum, and the feasibility of the core services working together, the continuity of provision after the age of 25 and CPD for teachers to keep them abreast of current SEN best practice.