Supporting awareness and understanding of autistic children and young people with a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile across the UK.
England, United Kingdom
Joined February 2026
- Tweets175
- Following31
- Followers28
- Likes31
Pinned Tweet
The Govt says it will act.
Now let’s make sure it does.
A Parliamentary debate means scrutiny, accountability and action.
Help support this petition. Because too many children are being failed in the worst way.
@andyburnham @LucyMPowell #LabourUK
petition.parliament.uk/petit…
PDA-Advocacy retweeted
A legal analysis of the Government’s response to the petition to save disabled children’s legal rights says, “There are a number of misleading, or outright untrue, statements within the response.”
Here’s a link to the petition:
petition.parliament.uk/petit…
linkedin.com/pulse/gas-light…
I’d be interested to see this broken down by SEND. Falling overall exclusions don’t necessarily show that a behaviour model works for every child. If autistic PDA distress or overwhelm is interpreted as defiance, some pupils may be excluded because the model itself is a poor fit.
Another academy chain known for its high standards and robust behaviour model is Ark Academies. So I checked to see how their exclusions compared against national averages. Lo and behold, they too started higher, then dropped below the average.
This builds on my earlier hypothesis that chains with clear behaviour models, using consequences and structured expectations, often start with higher rates, that then decline.
If exclusions should “reflect the need to use them”, how should we interpret the disproportionate exclusion of SEND pupils? For a PDA child, defiance may actually be overwhelm, distress or a threat response. Are we excluding children for distress mistaken as behaviour?
We cannot improve attendance without first improving LA decision making and accountability. When children’s needs are minimised, provision delayed and unsuitable placements pursued, absence can be the consequence of system failure. That deserves the same scrutiny as attendance.
Across the country, young people tell me they want to work. But to solve the NEETs crisis we need to tackle attendance.
Thanks Alan Milburn + team for the chance to share what I’m hearing in my Big Future survey and tour incl a special visit to Anfield.
open.substack.com/pub/onemil…
If we are serious about tackling attendance, LA decision making must be part of that conversation. When unsuitable provision, delayed support or failure to meet SEND needs contributes to a child being unable to access education, accountability has to sit with the LA.
The Govt says it will act.
Now let’s make sure it does.
A Parliamentary debate means scrutiny, accountability and action.
Help support this petition. Because too many children are being failed in the worst way.
@andyburnham @LucyMPowell #LabourUK
petition.parliament.uk/petit…
The Govt has responded to this petition to include autistic children with a PDA profile in National Inclusion Standards.
We now need confidence those commitments will be delivered.
We cannot accept more harm to
Children.
petition.parliament.uk/petit…
#petitions #send #education
National standards without accountability are just words.
Families need confidence that decisions will improve, not simply promises that they might.
Support the petition.
#SEND #petitions
@LucyMPowell @andyburnham @educationgovuk
petition.parliament.uk/petit…
Congratulations @LucyMPowell
The Govt has already committed to including autistic children with a PDA profile in National Inclusion Standards.
We now need confidence those commitments will be delivered.
We cannot accept more children being harmed.
petition.parliament.uk/petit…
Would you trust a Govt that removes parents legal right to challenge unlawful SEND decisions? Around 95% of SEND tribunal rulings go against LA’s If councils are losing at that rate, why remove parents right to hold them to account instead of fixing the decisions? @andyburnham
For children with a PDA profile, this creates an important conversation. The challenge isn’t whether adaptations should happen it I s whether schools understand what the barrier actually is.
#Inclusionmatters #educationforall #Pathologicaldemandavoidance
@educationgovuk
The EEF has produced a toolkit to help schools with inclusive teaching, which warns against 'ineffective' adaptations
tes.com/magazine/news/genera…
Children don’t experience policy. They experience the consequences when systems fail to identify their needs. This couldn’t be more true for children with a PDA profile. Excluded because PDA is “not recognised”.
#PDA #inclusionmatters
Does our education system deliver equal educational opportunity?
Help this UK Parliament petition reach 100,000 signatures so it can be considered for a parliamentary debate.
🔗 petition.parliament.uk/petit…
@ChildrensComm @CommonsEd @educationgovuk
#SEND #Education #PDA
@PaulaMc007 your campaign has shown how understanding changes lives. The Government has confirmed PDA will be included within the National Inclusion Standards. Would you consider supporting this petition to help make that commitment meaningful?
@bphillipsonMP How will the National Inclusion Standards help ensure autistic children with a PDA profile receive appropriate access to education regardless of postcode?
Over 1 million children now have an active referral to mental health services. We cannot separate children’s mental health from unmet SEND needs. Distress escalates when needs go unmet. Earlier understanding isn’t optional, it’s preventative. #SEND
1/4
The Government has confirmed that autistic children with a PDA profile will be included in the National Inclusion Standards.
This is welcome.
But recognition alone does not protect children.
#PDA #SEND #NationalInclusionStandards
4/4
A needs led system depends on recognising need and providing support.
What happens when neither happens?
When harm is foreseeable and preventable, is this a provision issue or a safeguarding failure?
@educationgovuk @bphillipsonMP
#PDA #SEND #Safeguarding
5/5
This is an important issue for disabled children’s rights, safeguarding and educational access.
@tes @SchoolsWeek @Autism @SENMAGAZINE @PDASociety @CommonsEd @DisRightsUK @IPSEAcharity @SpcialNdsJungle @ChildrensComm