The findings accompany the launch of the charity’s campaign Great Expectations, aimed at influencing government reforms on special educational needs (SEN) to ensure the expectations of both children and parents are met.
More than 1,000 parents of children with autism were surveyed by the society, with 48 per cent saying they waited more than a year to get the right support for their child and 27 per cent saying the wait was more than two years.
Eighteen per cent of parents said they had taken legal action to get appropriate support for their children and had gone to tribunal an average of 3.5 times each.
Only 52 per cent of parents said their child was making good educational progress and seven out of 10 did not think it had been easy to get the education support their child needed, while a further 47 per cent said their child’s needs were not picked up in a timely way.
Mark Lever, NAS chief executive, said: "It is completely unacceptable that so many parents are still fighting a daily battle for their fundamental right to get an education for their child. The government rightly recognises that action is needed, and that they need to reform a system that continues to let many children with autism down.
"Our report sets out the practical, often simple, steps that the government can take to create a system that works for everyone. Let’s get it right."
NAS is now recommending that local authorities work with schools and other services such as health to ensure all schools have access to specialist support and for chairs of governing bodies to be given specific training in SEN. According to the charity, health visitors and school staff must also have specific training in autism to ensure they can identify early signs of the condition.
Referring to the new health and wellbeing boards, the report said there should be more representation from schools. CYP Now reported earlier this month that initial research had shown schools look unlikely to be among the main representatives on the boards.
NAS also wants local authorities to increase transparency by publishing their strategic plans for children with SEN. The charity said government must also work with councils, parents and the voluntary sector to explore how local authorities can become parent champions.
