North Norfolk MP calling for mandatory autism training for teachers
Conservative MP Duncan Baker has introduced a Bill to Parliament in the hope of bringing in the change.
Mandatory autism training should be introduced for teachers, the Commons has heard.
Conservative MP Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) has introduced a Bill to Parliament in the hope of bringing in the change.
The backbencher said mandatory training would be aimed at identifying signs of autism and help children affected to achieve positive outcomes in school.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Baker said: "Less than half of autistic children say they are happy in school.
"73% of young autistic people say their teachers do not understand their needs."
Autistic children are "twice as likely to be excluded from school in comparison to their peers", he said, with life outcomes also affected and just 29% of autistic people in full or part-time employment, and paid less on average.
Mr Baker told the Commons: "As it stands, 39% of primary school teachers have just more than half a day's training in autism, such a small amount.
"For second school, this drops to just 14%."
Currently, special educational needs and disability (Send) is considered a specialist area of teaching, he said, and so not all teachers are taught to identify "Send markers".
"This needs to change.
"Autistic pupils routinely identify autism training for teachers as the single biggest change that would improve their experience of school," he said.
Early diagnosis would help to identify the needs of children with autism and "provides a positive pathway", the MP argued.
He used the 10-minute rule procedure to introduce his Autism (Early Identification) Bill to the Commons.
He said: "(The Bill) would deliver support to increase autism assessment, reduce diagnosis waiting times, and introduce mandatory autism training for all teachers.
"This Bill will provide a solid base through which all teachers will learn about early identification, the special educational needs code of practice, the pattern and sequence of child development, what needs to be done if a child has communication difficulties, and understanding and dealing with difficult behaviour."
The MP said the Bill is "supported by the sector".
The Bill's second reading stage was listed for Friday April 19, but it will be unlikely to progress through Parliament without the Government's support.