I had planned to avoid the whole #silentcorridors debate which has cropped up yet again, but I do need to address one particular aspect of it.

I very often see people using “autistic children prefer quiet, calm environments” to argue in favour of them, and this is problematic...

1) It is based on the stereotype of all autistic children being sensory sensitive when in reality, many are sensory seekers or a mixture of the two.

2) It’s whataboutery: used in response to #ActuallyAutistic people or parents of autistic kids who point out the unintended consequences of certain policies.

These people have lived experience of the damage done by some school environments; as school leaders we should listen.

3) It is sometimes accompanied by a straw man argument, along the lines of “Are you arguing that chaotic environments are better for SEND kids?”

Grow up.

4) Saying that noisy corridors are the reason why autistic kids need to leave lessons 5 mins early is not necessarily true. Other factors are at play such as the number of people, the lighting and anxiety about being late to the next lesson.

5) If you care about the wellbeing of autistic children in schools, give them a voice. Consult with them and their families. Listen. Ensure that you have autistic people represented on your governing body.

It’s better than trying to score points on Twitter.