Ofsted criticised over training manual linking autistic children to extremism

National Autistic Society says guidance risks stigmatising traits amid concern over number of autistic children referred to Prevent Ofsted, the body responsible for safeguarding in education in England, has been accused of “offensive” and “clumsy” discrimination after telling inspectors that children with autism are “at increased risk of being susceptible to extremism”. A training manual used to teach hundreds of school inspectors also claims that children who are autistic are “more likely to develop special interests” and “can be drawn into extremism” as a result.