Absence Notes
For autistic young people, being absent from school can take many different forms.
It's being denied a school that’s right for your needs.
It’s being in class but not included.
It’s being sent home because autistic traits are misunderstood.
Young people are missing out on opportunities to learn, thrive, make friends and achieve.
They’re being let down by a one-size-fits-all education system that is denying them the future they deserve.
Our latest research found that over a third of autistic pupils have missed a month or more of school since September. This is not acceptable.
Let's turn absence into action.
What we are doing
Having to write an explanation for absence from school will be a familiar experience for many autistic children and young people and their families.
Through our Absence Notes campaign we are shining a spotlight on these experiences to highlight the many reasons why autistic children can’t access their basic right to education.
These notes also reveal how children can be absent even when they are in school due to a lack of understanding and support.
Instead of parents writing to schools, autistic young people and their families have written their own notes to the Government to call for change.
On 2 September, we took the Absence Notes campaign to Parliament, putting autistic young people's experiences directly in front of MPs and decision-makers at a crucial moment for the future of SEND.
As the Government considers the next steps following the Schools White Paper consultation, we wanted every MP to understand what life is really like for autistic children and young people. Through the Absence Notes, they heard first-hand about the barriers preventing autistic pupils from accessing education and why meaningful reform cannot happen without autistic voices at its heart.
Together, we will continue to make sure Parliament hears these experiences, understands the urgent need for change, and acts to build an education system where every autistic child and young person can learn, belong, and thrive.
Read autistic young people’s absence notes
What we want
The Schools White Paper consultation may have closed, but the decisions that will shape the future of SEND are still to come. Through Absence Notes, we’re calling on the Government to put autistic young people’s experiences at the heart of reform.
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Put autistic voices at the heart of decisions, so support reflect real lives and rebuilds trust in the system.
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Judge reform by whether autistic children and young people's lives improve, using evidence and data to drive change.
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Set clear expectations from the top, showing through government policy and guidance that inclusion and excellence go hand in hand, so schools are empowered to support autistic pupils.
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Strengthen the SEND system so it works by design, not by fight, upholding rights, improving joint working across education, health and care, and planning a full range of provision so children get the right support at the right time.
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Properly fund and train for real inclusion, including ensuring every teacher and school staff member has the knowledge and confidence to support autistic pupils.
Get involved
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Add your name to our collective Absence Note, calling on the Government to reform SEND and create an education system where every autistic child and young person can learn, belong, and thrive.
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Share the campaign on social media to help more people understand why autistic children and young people are being denied their right to education.
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If you're not already part of our campaign, sign up to receive updates and find out how you can continue supporting the campaign for change.