Autistic pupils asked for views on school support

The project aims to improve inclusion and understand challenges students face

Autistic children who attend mainstream secondary schools in a city are being asked about their experiences with teachers.

Liverpool City Council is encouraging autistic pupils to share their views as it seeks to improve inclusion.

The authority said the approach would help teachers better understand the challenges faced by students.

Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Jenny Turnross, said the project was "crucial".

'Lived experience'

“Work like this allows professionals to gain invaluable insight to support all students more effectively and promote inclusive classrooms where every child can thrive,” she said.

“Listening to the lived experience of pupils and their families is crucial when increasing awareness and understanding of autism,"

Liverpool City Council is working with the Liverpool Parent Carer Forum and Alder Hey Children's Hospital Trust as part of the National Autism in Schools Project.

The council will also work with autistic children to create a video as part of the Pupil Voice Project.

The film will show their lived experiences of being an autistic young person in a mainstream secondary school and will be used as an educational resource in schools and health services across Merseyside, the local authority said.