ROBERT BROWN MSP CALLS FOR BETTER SERVICES FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 23rd Oct 2007

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown has been closely involved with the campaign for better education provision for autistic children since the beginning. He has promised his full backing to the campaign.

Robert Brown said:

"It is highly unsatisfactory that there is no specialist provision for children and young people on the autistic spectrum in the Rutherglen/Cambuslang area. Consequently vulnerable children have to travel further away from their homes to attend other schools in South Lanarkshire or, in too many instances, are unable to get a satisfactory placing at all.

On any view, the numbers of families with children in this situation in the local area justify specific provision in Rutherglen or Cambuslang, but the Council are highly uncertain about the numbers, the arrangements for assessing children are complex, there seems to be no proper system for Education Services to become aware of all the children concerned, and there is more than a suspicion that some children fall through the net and are missed.

I would hope that South Lanarkshire Council would aim to provide the very best provision for children with additional support needs, and particularly those with autism, but there is clearly some distance yet to go.

I would urge the Council to make a commitment now to identify a suitable primary school in Rutherglen or Cambuslang for children on the autistic spectrum which could be a centre for excellence for the area, and to ensure that this is up and running for the next school year. That is what the parents want, and they are entirely right!"