The NSPCC has released new, easy-to-use resources to help parents and carers support children and young adults with a learning disability as they experience puberty. The materials are intended to guide families through what can be a complex stage of development, both physically and emotionally, and to help young people better understand the changes happening to their bodies.
Young people with a learning disability may struggle to make sense of puberty, regulate new emotions or explain how they are feeling. The NSPCC says this can sometimes lead to confusion about personal boundaries or what behaviour is appropriate in different settings. The guidance highlights the importance of clearly explaining the difference between public and private spaces, helping young people to stay safe and confident as they grow.
The charity also recognises that puberty can be challenging for parents and carers. Many may feel unsure or uncomfortable starting conversations about topics such as sexual development, hygiene or behaviour, and may not know where to turn for reliable advice. To address this, the NSPCC has produced two practical guides covering puberty and sexualised behaviours, alongside symbol-based booklets on subjects including periods, body hair, erections, masturbation, sweating and wet dreams.
Developed by the NSPCC’s Together for Childhood Stoke team with local partners, the resources use clear language and simple symbols to improve understanding. They have also been designed to be fully accessible, including compatibility with screen readers, ensuring as many families as possible can benefit from clear, supportive and inclusive information during this important stage of life.
The National Autistic Society Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to bring forward the proposed Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill before the Scottish Parliament election in May. The charity says the legislation is crucial to improving the lives of autistic people, people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent people across Scotland, and should not be delayed any further.
Developed after wide-ranging consultation, the Bill is designed to strengthen human and civic rights, promote fairness and drive meaningful change. While Scotland already has a number of policies and strategies in place, NAS Scotland argues there is still a significant disconnect between the support people are entitled to and what they experience in reality, particularly in education, health services, social care and employment.
According to the charity, many individuals and families continue to struggle without adequate help, often reaching crisis point. Rob Holland, Director of NAS Scotland, said autistic people should not have to wait any longer for reforms that respect their rights and allow them to live independently and with dignity. He added that political commitment is needed to tackle long-standing inequalities and poor outcomes.
The call comes alongside the launch of NAS Scotland’s new ‘Act Now’ campaign, focusing on diagnosis and support, healthcare access, schools and inclusive communities. Campaigners say the LDAN Bill could reduce long waiting times, improve professional training and introduce greater accountability, helping autistic and neurodivergent people to fully participate in a fairer and more inclusive society.
Thousands of disabled people, including those with learning disabilities, are set to benefit from a £50 million increase in funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), aimed at helping more people live safely and independently in their own homes. The extra money will be shared out to local councils from February 2026.
Disabled Facilities Grants help cover the cost of adapting homes to meet individual needs. With the average award standing at around £10,000, the latest funding boost could support approximately 5,000 additional people. Adaptations can include stairlifts, ramps, accessible bathrooms and a wide range of assistive technologies, such as automated doors, ceiling hoists and smart lighting or heating systems.
The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group has welcomed the announcement, saying the investment will make a real difference to disabled people, carers and families. Its chief executive said having suitable, well-adapted housing is fundamental to enabling people to live independently and with dignity, and described the funding as a vital step towards improving quality of life.
The DFG remains the primary source of government support for home adaptations in England and is a means-tested, statutory grant. The current maximum award is £30,000, a limit that has faced criticism for not keeping pace with rising building costs. Responding to the funding increase, Social Security and Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms said the move reflects a wider commitment to removing barriers for disabled people, from improving housing to expanding employment support, and ensuring greater inclusion across public services.
A campaign group has released a hard-hitting video calling on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to protect the legal rights of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Produced by Save Our Children’s Rights (SOCR), the film features actress Sally Phillips alongside children with SEND and their families, voicing concern that the Government may dilute or remove Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
EHCPs are legally binding documents that outline a child’s educational support, based on expert assessments. In the video, contributors argue that weakening these protections would leave many children without guaranteed access to appropriate education. They urge the prime minister to choose safeguarding children over cost-cutting, warning that removing legal rights would deepen existing problems rather than solve them.
SOCR brings together organisations including Special Needs Jungle, IPSEA, Learning Disability Today and a number of parent-led groups. The coalition says proposed changes would affect all pupils, not only those with diagnosed needs, by reducing support and accountability across the education system. The group is calling for any plans to alter SEND law to be paused.
The campaign coincides with a petition, signed by more than 132,000 people, being delivered to Downing Street. A Government white paper on SEND reform is expected next month, following delays. Ministers say decisions have not yet been finalised and point to £3bn in new funding to expand specialist provision within mainstream schools, aiming to keep children educated closer to home while reforms are developed.
A medication few people outside medical circles will recognise could soon be under fresh scrutiny, as major trial results are expected this year to assess whether it may benefit some autistic children. Leucovorin, a form of folinic acid, has attracted attention after the US government backed its approval for children with cerebral folate deficiency, a condition thought to be linked to autism in some cases.
That decision, announced last year, prompted unease among clinicians and researchers. Critics argued the move relied on a limited body of evidence, largely drawn from small-scale studies that could not clearly show how effective the drug is, or which children might benefit most. While leucovorin has long been used for other medical purposes, its role in autism remains uncertain.
Greater clarity may arrive in 2026, when findings from the largest clinical trial of leucovorin in autistic children are expected to be published. The study, which has followed hundreds of participants, aims to determine whether the drug can meaningfully improve communication, behaviour or other core features associated with autism, particularly in children with folate-related metabolic differences.
Researchers say the results could help settle a debate that has divided opinion in recent years. If the trial shows clear benefits, it may strengthen the case for targeted use of leucovorin in specific groups. If not, it could reinforce concerns that enthusiasm has run ahead of solid evidence. Either way, the findings are likely to influence future treatment decisions and research priorities on both sides of the Atlantic.
The number of children in London requiring special educational needs and disabilities (Send) support has climbed to its highest level on record, according to BBC London analysis of Department for Education data. Over the last decade, figures have risen sharply, with councils warning the system is under severe strain and families describing lengthy battles to secure help.
Data shows the total number of children receiving Send support in the capital has increased by almost a third since 2015. The rise has been particularly steep among children diagnosed with autism, with numbers more than doubling during that period. Parents say navigating the process for support is confusing and exhausting, often leaving them reliant on advice from other families rather than schools or local authorities.
One south London mother described how her son struggled to cope in mainstream education due to sensory overload and emotional regulation difficulties. After repeated incidents and school refusals, he was eventually placed in a specialist unit within his primary school. She said his attendance and wellbeing improved, but only after securing an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which she found difficult to obtain.
Local authorities say they are facing intense financial pressure as demand continues to grow. London Councils has warned that nearly half of boroughs could face serious financial difficulty due to rising Send costs. While councils and schools are investing in early intervention and specialist provision, leaders admit the system remains inconsistent and overstretched, with meaningful reform likely to take time.
Major reforms to mental health legislation have formally become law after the Mental Health Act received Royal Assent, marking a significant shift in how people with learning disabilities and autistic people are treated in England. The changes aim to curb long-term and inappropriate detention, which campaigners have criticised for decades as outdated and harmful.
Current figures show more than 2,000 people with learning disabilities and autistic people are still being held in hospital settings, with almost half having remained there for at least five years. Many detentions have continued not because of medical need, but due to gaps in suitable housing and a lack of properly funded community support. Under the new law, people without a co-existing mental illness will no longer be detained for longer than 28 days.
The legislation also strengthens patient rights by introducing mandatory care and treatment plans and expanding the role of families and carers in decision-making. First introduced in 1983 and last updated in 2007, the Act had fallen behind modern understanding of mental health and neurodiversity. The reforms are based on recommendations from Sir Simon Wessely’s 2018 independent review, which called for care to be more person-centred and less restrictive.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the new Act would restore dignity and choice to people in crisis and address long-standing inequalities, including the disproportionate detention of Black people. While the changes will be phased in over the next decade, ministers have committed to annual progress updates and to working with people with lived experience to ensure community-based alternatives are in place.
