New research: Children at risk of exclusion from school could have autistic behavioural traits

New research appears to have confirmed what many of us have long suspected: that many kids facing exclusion from school may have undiagnosed autism.

Here's the press release from Media Newswire:

Children at risk of exclusion from school could have autistic behavioural traits, according to new research.

The study, published in the April issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, suggests that up to a third of children who are at risk of being excluded from school for disruptive behaviour could have undiagnosed social communication problems of an autistic type.

Researchers from the UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH) recruited 26 persistently disruptive children aged 6-13 years old from primary schools in the London borough of Hackney. 16 of the children had been excluded from school at least once before, and 10 were considered by their teachers to be at high risk of exclusion. The researchers interviewed the children’s parents, and the children were given tests of IQ, attention, social cognition and theory of mind.

The researchers found that 9 of the 26 disruptive children (35 per cent) met clinical criteria for an autism-spectrum disorder. However, their social communications had not been detected by a professional.

Lead researcher Professor David Skuse,head of behavioural and brain sciences at the ICH and manager of the UK’s National Centre for High Functioning Autism at Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust (GOSH), said:

“Our research shows that many children who get into trouble at school are being labelled ‘disruptive’ or ‘aggressive’ by their teachers and peers, when in reality they are displaying behaviours that are consistent with traits we see in clinically diagnosed autism. The children involved in our study have been recommended for appropriate treatment and their educational needs should now be recognised and adjusted accordingly.

“Teachers should be supported to identify these children before they are unfairly excluded from school and they miss out on the education and learning opportunities they deserve.”

Friday Fuckwit: Abbott Promotes Private Privilege

Some of us have long doubted Diane Abbott's credentials as a "left-wing" MP.

And here she is, at it again ...

Dear Friend,

I am writing to you about a full fee scholarship for the Sixth Form of City of London Boys School http://www.clsb.org.uk. I have been asked to find applicants for this. City of London Boys School is one of the best boys schools in the UK. It has wonderful facilities and regularly comes near the top of the examination league tables. I can vouch for the school because I sent my own son there!

They have a full fee sixth form scholarship available. This has been especially funded by Linklaters the top City law firm. The scholarship means that the boy selected will be able to attend the sixth form of City of London free of charge. There are two main criteria.

The first criterion is that the applicant should either be living, or be at school, in the London Borough of Hackney. The other criterion is that he should be an academically gifted young man. He should be predicted to get at least six As at GCSE.

So, if you know of a gifted young Hackney schoolboy who would benefit from attending one of the best schools in the country for sixth form, please get back in touch with me and state his name, address, predicted grades at GCSE and why you think that he would benefit from attending Sixth Form at this school.

Happy Holidays
Diane Abbott MP

Frankly, I am appalled that a supposedly socialist MP is promoting a fee-paying private school.

She would be better off fighting for more funding, places and accountability for Hackney's state schools so that all the borough's boys and girls can benefit, rather than offering one youngster a leg-up into privilege.