Autism: Parenting Support Programmes

Lord Addington Excerpts

Tuesday 14th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

The noble Lord raises an interesting point. At the moment, we are talking more openly and exchanging more information about what is actually happening because more people are sharing experiences, putting in place support networks and raising awareness. There are still too many people—whether in our education sector or in businesses and employment—who do not understand the needs of autistic people in particular, although we are talking about learning disabilities across the piece. We are on a very steep learning curve, but the most important thing is that we get provision in place to help people at the time of greatest need.

[Lord Addington (LD)]

My Lords, the Government sound very confident about this, but on the 29th of last month, in Committee Room 10, I was in a room full of parents of people on the autism spectrum who have gone through the process. Generally, they were terrified of the idea of integration into schools with untrained staff—schools in which their children have already spent their time in corridors or quiet rooms, with one TA looking in occasionally. Will the Government give an assurance that supported special schools will be part of this and that integration will not be done as a religion but merely when it is appropriate?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I have heard the noble Lord speak about this many times, and I reassure him that there will not be a one-size-fits-all approach to this. It is vital to recognise that there are young people who have particular needs that will be addressed through specialist schools, for example. However, there is so much evidence that, if we get this right—by putting in the investment, putting in the training that we are funding and working with young people—the benefits of integration and inclusive learning, where they are being done successfully, are enormous. The noble Lord is right that it is important that we get this right. I understand the nervousness, particularly from parents who have spent a lot of time getting their cases heard, so it is up to us to make sure that we go out and give the reassurance that their needs will not be left behind.