Background and Local Context

Bath and North East Somerset Council has an overarching SEND strategy to meet the changing needs of pupils and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

As part of this strategy, the needs of children and young people with autism and their families are a key area of focus.  In response to the analysis of the current and future need, the local authority and its partners aim to build a sustainable range of support.  The goal is to develop services so that children and young people with autism can be supported in their local communities and local educational settings.

A few facts based on Bath and North East Somerset Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Needs Assessment, Data and Performance Review (2018):

• 6% of the SEND Support cohort in B&NES’s mainstream primary and secondary schools are classified with a primary need of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Jan, 2017) 
• In January 2017 over a quarter (26%) of the local B&NES maintained EHCP cohort had a primary need type diagnosis of ASD 
• Between January 2013 and January 2017 there has been a 90% increase in the number of children and young people with a Statement or EHCP maintained by B&NES who have a primary need diagnosis of ASD (the largest volume increase of all the primary need types)  
• As at January 2017, 31% of B&NES’s Special School on-roll cohort have a primary need type of ASD (compared to 27% nationally) 
• Locally, Children in Need (including Children on Protection Plans and Looked after Children) are much more likely to be diagnosed with ASD compared to national figures.