Six years ago, Scottish Autism, alongside Children in Scotland and the National Autistic Society Scotland, published a troubling report, Not Included, Not Engaged, Not Involved. The findings revealed widespread unlawful exclusions of autistic students, with a third of surveyed parents reporting their children were sent home without formal documentation. Over a quarter of the children experienced part-time timetables, leaving families to shoulder the burden of inadequate support.

Despite commitments to address these issues, the situation remains dire. Parents still face mid-morning calls to collect distressed children, many of whom are unable to attend school full-time or at all. Without accurate measurement of informal exclusions, the scale of the problem remains obscured, stalling meaningful change.

This systemic failure reflects broader challenges in education. Inclusion often prioritizes physical presence in mainstream classrooms over meeting individual needs. The lack of robust guidance on part-time timetables exacerbates the issue, leaving families without support as parents abandon work to care for their children.

Scottish Autism calls on the Scottish Government to act urgently. Revising exclusion and timetabling guidance and implementing clear measures to track these issues are essential first steps. Without immediate action, autistic learners and their families will continue to face unnecessary hardship.

Inclusion is not just about presence — it’s about creating environments where every learner can thrive. It’s time for all of us to fulfill our promises to autistic students and their families.