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<p>The Secretary of State has received several recent parliamentary questions about
the informal exclusion of children with autism. Officials from the department have
also met with Ambitious about Autism in March 2014, to discuss its concerns about
this issue, raised in the report, Ruled Out.</p><p> </p><p>The government's view remains
clear. No child should be unlawfully excluded. Ofsted and the department would take
seriously evidence that a school had acted unlawfully in excluding a pupil. In addition,
most children on the autism spectrum would be considered disabled under the Equality
Act 2010. Where disabled children are discriminated against through unlawful exclusion
their parents can make a claim to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs
and Disability). The Tribunal has wide ranging powers, including the power to require
the reinstatement of a pupil.</p><p> </p><p>Awareness of autism and appropriate skills
are essential to meeting the needs of autistic children. The reforms we are introducing
through the Children and Families Act will provide for earlier and better assessment
of children and young people's needs. We're also investing more than £3 million of
funding over two years to raise awareness of autism and help schools and colleges
deliver the support these children and young people need. This includes £1.5 million
for the Autism Education Trust to provide tiered training to early years, school and
further education college staff, as well as £440,000 to the National Autistic Society,
part of which is being used to provide advice to professionals and parents on exclusion.</p><p>
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