Biography
Sir Julian Smith has predominantly engaged through debate speeches on learning disability and autism, with a particular focus on teacher training and assessment quality for neurodiverse children. His contributions consistently emphasise the need for mandatory autism training for educators, concerns about government funding cuts to ADHD and autism assessment providers, and the importance of understanding autism profiles in school settings. He has also raised broader concerns about safeguarding for autistic and disabled children in education policy.
Generated from their own Hansard record, below
“…to improve the health of neurodiverse young people is high-quality attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism assessments. The Government are proposing to cut substantially the amount paid to providers.”
Record by topic
- Learning disability & autism122nd of 89930.0
- Cancer330th of 6225.0
- Mental health654th of 8803.0
What they’ve said
“…I will not talk about SEND travel today, but a big issue in my inbox—as in that of the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough—is from parents who accept that things have to change, but who have seen anomalies impacting their kids and their ability to get their kids to school.”
Home-to-School Transport · 2026-06-04 · Read on Hansard ↗
“I welcome the section on training in the SEND consultation, but much of it is not statutory. Will the Secretary of State confirm her thinking on that? Will she also confirm that autism and profiles of it such as pathological demand avoidance will be at the centre of that training?”
Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving · 2026-02-23 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…I think of FinTrU in Derry, which is actively recruiting autistic people because of the skills and values they have. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that we have to much more effectively match those companies with people with an autistic background?…”
Autistic Adults: Employment · 2025-11-11 · Read on Hansard ↗
“Q5. A much better understanding of the particular needs of autistic and neurodiverse children is vital to expanding capacity in mainstream education for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.”
Engagements · 2025-07-16 · Read on Hansard ↗
“One of the best ways to support autistic children in schools is for teachers to go through mandatory training and to understand better the challenges that faced by neurodiverse people. How is the neurodivergent taskforce progressing, and will the Government bring in mandatory training for new teachers?”
SEND Support: Children without an EHCP · 2025-06-16 · Read on Hansard ↗
Contributions reproduced under the Open Parliament Licence.