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<p>In the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision
Improvement Plan, the department set out a vision to improve mainstream education
by setting standards for the early and accurate identification of need and the timely
provision of access to support. The standards will clarify the types of support that
should be ordinarily available in mainstream settings and who is responsible for securing
the support. This will give parents confidence and clarity on how their child’s needs
will be met.</p><p>As part of this, the department has committed to developing practitioner
standards, which were known as practice guides in the Improvement Plan, to provide
advice to education professionals. At least three practitioner standards will be published
by the end of 2025, one of which will be focused on autism. The department will build
on existing best practice and will include guidance on how an education environment
may be adapted to better support the needs of autistic pupils.</p><p>The department's
Universal Services contract brings together SEND-specific continuous professional
development and support for the school and further education workforce to improve
outcomes for children and young people, including those who are autistic.</p><p>The
contract offers autism awareness training and resources delivered by the Autism Education
Trust (AET). Over 135,000 education professionals have undertaken autism awareness
training as part of AET's ‘train the trainer’ model since the Universal Services programme
commenced in May 2022.</p>
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