ChildRIGHT Interview: Sarah Lambert, head of policy, National Autistic Society

What difficulties do children with autism face in accessing suitable education?

One in 100 people in the England have autism, which equates to approximately 88,000 school-aged children. The vast majority of these children are in mainstream schools, although many are in a specialist unit attached to a mainstream school or are in specialist education.

Choosing a school is a big decision for any parent, but the additional support needs of a child with autism mean that access to information about how a school can support the needs of a child is particularly vital. Our research has shown that 45 per cent of parents do not receive adequate support to help them choose a school, and that over 50 per cent of children with autism are not in the kind of school their parents believe would best support them. There is also a lack of appropriate placements for children with autism in some areas.