Autism is a part of daily life for 2.8 million people

There are around 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK – that’s more than 1 in 100. If you include their families, autism is a part of daily life for 2.8 million people. Autism affect children, young people and adults. Source: NHS Information Centre, Community and Mental Health Team See the National Autistic Society…Read moreRead more

About Children on the Autistic Spectrum and their Experience of School

Of children on the autism spectrum: over a third (34%) say that the worst thing about being at school is being picked on; nearly two -thirds (63%) are not in the kind of school their parents believe would best support them; more than 1 in 6 have been suspended from school; and 1 in 25 has…Read moreRead more

More than 1 in 10 children with special educational needs has a diagnosis of autism

More than one in ten (11%) of children with special educational needs in state funded schools has a diagnosis of autism.  The number of Statements/EHC Plans that list autism as the primary need increased by 3% between 2010 and 2013. Source: Special educational needs in England published in January 2014 by DfE (more…)

As many as 1 in 10 children experience Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is a lifelong condition relating to how the brain processes information; resulting in messages not being properly or fully transmitted.  It is a lifelong condition which may affect fine and/or gross motor coordination in children and adults. It may also affect speech.  It occurs across the range of intellectual abilities. Estimates put the number of…Read moreRead more

More than 6 million people in the UK have dyslexia

An estimated 6.3 million (about 1 in 10 ) people in the UK have dyslexia, a learning difficulty which makes it hard to read and spell.  It is identified as a disability in the Equality Act 2010.  Dyslexia cannot be cured or prevented, but can be managed. About 4% of people have severe dyslexia; they may also…Read moreRead more

In the ‘Average’ Classroom of 30 Children…

3 children would be living with limiting long-term conditions 8 children have a parent with mental health problems and 1 child would be living in a household where both parents have serious mental health problems 3 children would have relatively serious mental health issues themselves 1 child would be caring for their parents or siblings…Read moreRead more

Half of children have been bullied… and weight and body shape are the main focus

In a typical classroom of 30 children, 15 will have been bullied at some point in their time at school according to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.  Most bullying focuses on weight and body shape – and it has major impact on victims according to a 2015 survey for Good Morning Britain’s Action! Against Bullying campaign.  That…Read moreRead more

More than 1.5m Children in Unsupported Families with Complex Needs

There are an estimated 1.6 million children in families in England with complex needs for which there is no national established, recognised form of support according to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.  That includes, for example, children in families in which parents have mental health issues, or are facing domestic violence, or are living in…Read moreRead more

More than 1 in 4 Children May be Disabled by Poverty…

More than a quarter of children in the UK are affected by family poverty.  That means missing out on things other children may take for granted – warm homes, new clothes, school trips, having friends over for tea; and they are more vulnerable to social exclusion.  They do less well at school and earn less as adults. …Read moreRead more

More than Half of Young People Bullied because of how they look…

More than half (55%) of ALL young people have been bullied about the way they look according to a YMCA report.  Most of the bullying focuses on weight and body shape; two fifths of those being bullied experience it at least once a week.  Contrary to popular belief, bullying mainly happens face to face in…Read moreRead more