Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will take steps to reduce the time taken for autistic children to receive a statement of special educational needs.

All local authorities in England are required to follow the guidance set out in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0-25 years: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25.

This requires them to meet a statutory deadline of 20 weeks for completion of an Education, Health and Care plan from the time that they receive a request for an assessment. This applies to all children and young people, including those on the autism spectrum.