Ed Miliband MP learns about education provision for region's autistic children

The Doncaster North MP visited the centre – part of Doncaster Deaf Trust – as he wanted to know more the education provision for autistic young people in the region.

Mr Miliband was invited to visit the college by Alan Fisher, the father of a young high functioning autistic student.

Alan said: “I wanted Ed Miliband to visit Communication Specialist College Doncaster to see what a fantastic place it is and why so many parents want their children to come here. My son Harry is almost 17 and is an extremely intelligent young man, but he has autism and needs the specialist support that places like this college offer.”

He added: “We have to fight to get our children and young people into specialist provision and this shouldn’t be the case. We all want our children to thrive and I can see how far Harry has come on here already. We need our MPs to support us to make sure that Harry and other children with communication difficulties get the education and support that they deserve.”

Executive principal of the college, Alan Robinson, said: “We were pleased that Ed took the time to come and meet us and find out more about the autistic provision we have for young people.

“As a specialist trust we have a nursery, school and college and our college offers places to young people who are deaf or hard of hearing or have communication difficulties such as autism.”

Mr Miliband was given a tour around the college and met tutors and students and he added: “I was hugely impressed with the staff and the students I met at Communication Specialist College Doncaster.

“The college – and the trust which supports it – do fantastic work to ensure its students have access to high-quality qualifications and to learn new skills, while also improving their employability, independence and communication.”