The School System & Autistic Kids: What Needs to Change

If you’ve ever had the pleasure (or absolute stress) of navigating the UK school system with an autistic child, then you already know—it’s about as smooth as a hedgehog on a trampoline. There are pockets of brilliance, of course—dedicated teachers, supportive staff, the occasional school that gets it—but for many autistic children and their families, the education system is a constant battle. And frankly, it shouldn’t be.

So, let’s talk about what actually needs to change to make school a place where autistic kids can thrive, not just survive.

1. EHCP’s Shouldn’t Be an Extreme Sport

If you’ve applied for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), then congratulations! You’ve unlocked a whole new level of bureaucratic chaos. Getting an EHCP is notoriously difficult, and the process seems designed to exhaust parents into giving up. It’s like trying to convince a panel of sceptics that your child’s struggles are just serious enough to warrant extra support—but not too serious, or they’ll say mainstream school can’t meet their needs.

What needs to change? The process should be faster, fairer, and less combative. No parent should have to fight this hard just to get their child the support they need.

2. More Support, Less “They’ll be fine”

Autistic children often need extra support in school. This can mean 1:1 teaching assistants, sensory breaks, or adjustments to the learning environment. But too often, parents hear the dreaded phrase: “They seem fine at school.” Ah yes, because no child has ever masked their struggles to the point of exhaustion, only to unravel the moment they get home.

Instead of assuming that a quiet, compliant child means a child who’s coping, schools need to listen to parents and believe children when they say they’re struggling. Just because a meltdown happens after school doesn’t mean the school day wasn’t the cause.

3. Teacher Training: Less Theory, More Reality

Many teachers are incredible and want to support autistic students, but they simply haven’t been given the right training. Autism isn’t just a chapter in a textbook—it’s real, it’s varied, and it affects every child differently. Expecting teachers to accommodate autistic students without proper training is like handing someone a car manual and expecting them to build an engine.

We need compulsory, in-depth autism training for all teachers and school staff—not just a half-hour PowerPoint presentation on “neurodiversity.” Practical strategies, real-life case studies, and input from autistic individuals would make a huge difference.

4. Sensory-Friendly Classrooms Aren’t Just a Luxury

School environments are not built for autistic kids. The fluorescent lights, the unpredictable noises, the constant transitions—it’s a sensory overload waiting to happen. A simple fix? Sensory-friendly classrooms.

This doesn’t mean turning every room into a zen den (though wouldn’t that be nice?). It means small, practical changes:

• Allowing noise-cancelling headphones
• Creating quiet spaces for breaks
• Letting kids fidget without calling it a distraction
• Reducing unnecessary bright lighting

A few adjustments can mean the difference between an engaged child and one who spends the day overwhelmed and shut down.

5. Stop Penalising Kids for Being Autistic

Too many autistic children are punished for things that are literally part of their neurotype—like struggling with eye contact, finding it hard to transition between tasks, or needing movement breaks. And don’t even get me started on exclusions. Autistic kids are five times more likely to be excluded from school than their neurotypical peers. That’s not bad behaviour; that’s unmet needs.

Instead of punishing autistic children for struggling, schools need to focus on understanding the why behind behaviours and supporting kids accordingly.

6. Inclusion Should Mean Actual Inclusion

Mainstream education isn’t the right fit for every autistic child, but for those who are in mainstream schools, “inclusion” needs to be more than just a buzzword. That means:

• Flexible learning approaches (because not every child thrives under the same teaching methods)
• Smaller class sizes (because let’s be honest, 30 kids in one room is a lot for anyone)
• Social support systems (because loneliness in school is real, and buddy systems can help massively)

Inclusion doesn’t mean forcing autistic kids to fit a neurotypical mould. It means making actual changes so that they can learn in a way that works for them.

Final Thoughts

The UK school system isn’t failing autistic kids because teachers don’t care. It’s failing because the system itself isn’t built for them. It’s outdated, underfunded, and often dismissive of the real struggles neurodivergent children face.

But change is possible. Schools that listen to autistic voices, work with parents instead of against them, and adapt to meet different needs are proof that a better system is within reach. Until then? We’ll keep advocating, keep pushing for change, and—most importantly—keep believing in our incredible kids.

Got thoughts on the UK school system and autism? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your experiences!