- The 2021 to 2026 strategy was the first to cover children and young people.
- Priorities included understanding, education, diagnosis and health and care.
- It ran until 2026; a new strategy was promised.
- The SEND reforms are a separate but related process.
What did the 2021 to 2026 strategy cover?
The strategy set out six priority areas, including improving understanding and acceptance of autism, improving autistic children and young people's access to education and supporting positive transitions, and tackling health and care inequalities, including through faster diagnosis.1
What did it mean for children's services?
- Earlier identification and reducing diagnosis waits
- Better autism understanding among school staff
- Support for transitions into adulthood
- Better health and care for autistic children
NICE guidance continues to set expectations for diagnostic assessment, including starting within 3 months of referral.2
What happens next?
The strategy ran until 2026 and the government committed to a new strategy. Check GOV.UK for the latest.
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