MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition campaigning for an overhaul in support for autistic children in Glasgow schools.

Action group PACT for Autism – who held a protest outside the council headquarters over concerns about children on the high end of the autistic spectrum being pushed into mainstream schools – say vulnerable children are suffering.

Their 1,089-signature petition, which was sent directly to council education top brass, calls on the local authority to implement six changes.

But their hopes look set to be dashed, after the council said the petition can't be considered because it covers the same topic as another received in the past 12 months.

The Evening Times previously reported how parents said some autistic children were self harming and one mother raised fears after her seven-year-old autistic son repeatedly ran away from a mainstream primary in the north of the city – once lying down in the middle of a busy dual carriageway.

Another hit out after being told to register her four-year-old son, who has complexed needs and the mental age of an 18-month-old baby, with a mainstream city primary school.

Glasgow City Council hit back saying that all children, regardless of their additional needs, must register with a mainstream primary school as a matter of policy only.

The petition, led by PACT for Autism chair Sharon Burns, reads: “Unfortunately our children’s experiences of poor education opportunities and experiences are many, however we have consolidated some of these concerns into six specific points that we wish to draw attention to.”

The first is exclusion and the group say that “autistic children and young people are often excluded from school and/or activities”. It adds that this causes “children/young people and their parents to feel isolation and exclusion and further more promotes a divide”.

The petition also raises concerns about autistic children being given “activities that are not suited to their development/functioning aptitude or ability and are often left doing odd jobs around the school”.

The third point raises concerns about a “lack of staff”.

The petition raises concerns about some staff members’ knowledge about autism and adds that more must be done to tackled the bullying of autistic children.

The petition ends: “All of the above is having detrimental effects on our children putting their mental health at serious risk, most of them self harming, threatening to kill themselves and running away as they are taken to school each day.”

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “The rules of the public petitions committee are that if it covers the same subject as one considered within the last 12 months, it cannot be put forward.

“A full explanation of the standing orders of the committee and the decision reached is being sent to the person who submitted it.

“Glasgow has the most extensive provision in the country for children and young people with additional support need – with continual assessment throughout a child’s schools and targeting the individual needs pupils.

“The increase in specialist provision in the city over the last few years has also been welcomed by professionals and parents and the presumption of mainstream is national policy.”