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<p>The department does not hold or plan to gather information on the number of education
professionals who have training specifically on autism.</p><p>Once teachers qualify
and are employed in schools, headteachers and school staff use their professional
judgement to identify any further training, including specific specialisms, for individual
staff that is relevant to them, the school, and its pupils. Schools do not report
information to the department on additional specialist training of this nature. However,
all teachers are teachers of students with special educational needs and disabilities
(SEND), and we are committed to ensuring that all pupils can reach their potential
and receive excellent support from their teachers.</p><p>Consideration of SEND underpins
both the initial teacher training (ITT) core content framework (CCF) and early career
framework (ECF), which were both produced with the support of sector experts.</p><p>ITT
courses must be designed so that teacher trainees can demonstrate that they meet all
of the Teachers' Standards at the appropriate level, including the requirement in
Standard 5, that all teachers must have a clear understanding of the needs of all
pupils.</p><p>The government invested £74 million into the first year of our new National
Autism Strategy, published in July 2021 and extended to children and young people
for the first time. It aims to improve the lives of people with autism, for example
through improving access to quality education. We will publish our second implementation
plan this year.</p><p>In February, the department announced funding which includes
nearly £12 million for the new Universal Services contract, to deliver SEND-specific
continuing professional development to the school and further education workforce.
This will help schools and colleges to support children and young people with SEND,
including autism, and includes specific support on the needs of autistic children
and young people.</p>
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