Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage, has today hosted a Westminster Hall debate on Autism and learning disability training for education staff.
The debate was called in response to three e-petitions, all of which called for training for teachers in education settings on those with autism or learning difficulties.
There are currently around 200,000 autistic pupils in England and 75% of them are in mainstream schools. Research carried out by the National Autistic Society recorded that only a quarter of these pupils were happy in school, whilst three-quarters of parents or carers felt their child’s needs were not being met.
Caroline was joined in Westminster Hall during the debate by Paula McGowan, a campaigner for improvements to autism and learning disability training. She became a powerful advocate for the training after her son Oliver tragically died aged just 17. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training for health and social care staff was introduced by Caroline when she was Minister of State for Care at the Department of Health and Social Care (2018-2020) and became law in the Health and Care Act 2022, it has already gained plaudits and received significant international interest.
During the debate, Caroline called on the Minister to extend the Mandatory Training to education staff following the success of the rollout of the training in health and social care settings.
Caroline said:
“It’s clear that currently autistic and neurodivergent children are not being supported in the best way that they could.
“The experiences that children have in school are incredibly formulative and so to hear that only 26% of autistic children feel happy in school is very worrying. We must bridge the gap between how teachers think their support is going and how autistic children and children with a learning disability actually feel.
"I am delighted that Paula McGowan, who has campaigned tirelessly for an improvement in knowledge and understanding of those with autism and learning disabilities, could be here for this debate.
“I hope that the Government listens to my call and the call of thousands of affected families to improve the provision of autism and learning disability training for education staff.”
Responding, David Johnston MP, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing said:
“By reviewing the initial teacher training framework, and the early career framework, which we will conclude by the end of this year and in the early period of 2024, we intend to publish what more we will do to support trainees and early careers teachers to be more confident and have the most up to date evidence that should inform their practice.
“SENCOs of course play a vital role in setting the direction of their school and coordinating the support that children with special educational needs need, and we want to invest in their training which is where we have developed the new National Professional Qualifications for SENCOs which will come into force in the Autumn of next year.”
Commenting after the debate, Paula McGowan said:
“I am incredibly appreciative that Oliver’s petition was debated today in Westminster Hall.
“We had some very strong speakers advocating for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training for health and social care staff to be extended to education staff.
“We all agree it is doable and achievable, and I really hope Minister Johnston will embrace and champion the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training for education staff.”
