Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness of Applied Behaviour Analysis in relation to autistic students and (b) effect of that analysis on the mental wellbeing of those students.

Autism is a spectrum condition where children have a range of strengths and difficulties. There is no well-founded research to show that any one intervention for children with autism (such as Applied Behaviour Analysis, TEACCH or Options/Son Rise) is more effective than all the other interventions or which interventions are best for which children on the spectrum. The government believes that intervention decisions should be taken by professionals locally, in consultation with parents and young people, after a thorough assessment of the child or young person’s needs.

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system as a whole is constructed to ensure that children with autism and with all other types of need are identified, understood and supported appropriately. Local authorities and education providers are expected to consult parents and children themselves and to review provision regularly. It is this overarching framework which is of fundamental importance in promoting the progress, and also the wellbeing of children with autism.