The National Autistic Society (NAS) has endorsed a new bill which would improve equality at school for autistic children and young people.

The Bill, introduced in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Martin Vickers, would amend the Equality Act 2010 by closing the loophole that allows schools to exclude pupils with disabilities such as autism if they physically harm others.

Supporters of the bill say schools excluding pupils do not consider that a child’s behaviour may be caused by their disability, and by needs that the school has not met.

The law currently requires schools to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for disabled pupils.

“Treating a child on the autism spectrum fairly does not necessarily mean treating them identically to other children, but creating an environment in which they can learn to the best of their ability. Adjustments may include things like assistance with communication, a quiet room, or a highly structured daily routine,” said the NAS.

“But schools do not always have a good understanding of this duty. Sometimes schools resist making the adjustments that pupils with disabilities need. Then, when the child’s behaviour becomes challenging or disruptive, some schools will exclude the child on the grounds of their ‘tendency to physical abuse of others’.”

They say the proposed law does not mean accepting violent behaviour at school, rather requiring schools to focus on the needs of individual pupils and on how these can be met at an early stage to avoid such situations.

The Bill, which was introduced under the Ten Minute Rule procedure, is due to have a second reading in the House of Commons on 16 December 2016.