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<p>The department wants every autistic young person to reach their potential and feel
heard at every stage of their life. That is why, in its first year alone, the department
is investing £74 million into our cross-government National Autism Strategy to promote
a straightforward route to diagnosis, the correct support, increasing understanding
and improving access to a quality education and social care.</p><p>£600,000 of this
funding has gone toward the department’s contract with the Autism Education Trust
(AET) for the 2021/22 financial year. The department has funded the AET since 2011
to deliver autism awareness training to education staff in early years, schools and
further education colleges. It has so far reached more than 305,000 people across
the country. This includes not only teachers and teaching assistants, but also support
staff such as receptionists, dining hall staff and caretakers, encouraging a 'whole
school' approach to supporting autistic pupils.</p><p>The mental health of all students,
including autistic children and young people, is a priority for this department. During
Mental Health Awareness week in May 2021, we announced more than £17 million to improve
mental health and wellbeing support in schools and colleges.</p><p>This is in addition
to the £79 million to boost children and young people’s mental health support we announced
in March 2021. This includes increasing the number of Mental Health Support Teams
in schools and colleges to cover approximately 35% of pupils in England by 2023.</p><p>In
addition to our existing commitments, the department is also determined to ensure
that the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system works more effectively
for those children who need extra support, including autistic children. That is why
we are completing the SEND Review, to improve outcomes and build a sustainable SEND
system where there is clear accountability.</p>
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