The coronavirus outbreak is having a significant impact on all aspects of everyday life, including the education system. We know that this will be causing a lot of anxiety for autistic children, and parents will have questions about what this means for their child’s education. We’ve tried to answer some of the most important questions below. There is more information on the Government’s website.

Should my child be going to school?

The majority of schools are closed. However, some autistic children can continue to go to school. We have explained how this will be decided below.

If my child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs

Parents should contact their child’s school to discuss arrangements and whether they should be going to school. The school and other relevant professionals should carry out a risk assessment to decide whether the child needs to go to school or whether their needs can safely be met at home. You can read more about this in the Government’s guidance.

The result of this risk assessment will be either:

• your child can continue to go to school
• your child should stay at home

If your child can go to school, this does not mean you have to send them.

If my child doesn’t have a Statement of Special Educational Needs

The Government has asked parents to keep their children at home wherever possible (the full guidance is here).

A child that doesn’t have a statement may have other vulnerabilities. You can read more about which children are considered vulnerable on the Department of Education website.

If you are not eligible, but still need support you can access the Education Authority’s support services.

What about Statutory Assessments, Statement procedures and Annual Reviews?

Parents can still request that the Education Authority (EA) carry out a Statutory Assessment of their child or young person's educational needs.

This process may take longer than usual if the EA is unable to carry out its duties as a result of coronavirus.
Annual Reviews are still being carried out remotely when possible. Occasionally it may be impractical to complete an Annual Review, but the EA must make sure it is carried out as soon as it’s practical.

Can I make an appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal?

Parents can still file appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST). Some cases are decided based on the evidence submitted in the paperwork alone. SENDIST has made arrangements so cases proceeding to a hearing are conducted remotely.

If my child is still going to school:

Will they attend their usual education setting?

Not always – if your child needs to go to school but their own school is closed, they will be given a place in another school. An interactive map displaying schools open for supervised learning can be accessed on the Education Authority website.

Will they still get all the support their Statement says they should be getting?

The new Coronavirus Act says that the Education Authority and schools do not need to meet all the requirements included in your child’s statement during this outbreak. However, it does say that they should use ‘best endeavours’ to make sure your child is supported. 

My child currently receives free school meals – will we still get them if they aren’t going to school?

Families will receive £2.70 per eligible child per day for each day of term the schools are closed. This money will be paid to families on a fortnightly basis. You can find out more about the scheme on the Department of Education’s website.

The Education Authority has details of the vast majority of children who get free school meals so the money should be paid directly into your bank account. You do not need to apply. If the EA does not have your bank details, they will contact you via a text message and ask you to complete a form on the EA website.

Do we know when schools will reopen to all pupils?

Pupils preparing for GCSE and A-Level exams and pupils moving from primary to secondary schools will go back to school in late August. Other pupils will have a phased return from the beginning of September. This will be a mixture of scheduled school attendance and learning at home.

There is further guidance in the Education Restart Programme letter from the Minister for Education, issued to the public on 3 June 2020.

What we’re doing

If you are worried about your child going back to school, or have questions about what’s happening, contact our Education Rights Service. They provide impartial and confidential information and support to families on school education rights and entitlements.

We’re also telling the Government about your experiences of lockdown so it knows what life is like for autistic people and their families. If you want to share your experiences, and any worries or concerns you have, email us at stories@nas.org.uk.