In the SEND Code of Practice (DfE, 2015), autism falls under the broad category of Communication and Interaction needs. However, the code also states that autistic children and young people "may have needs that cut across all areas" of SEND (DfE, 2025, p.85). Autistic children may experience sensory processing differences (i.e. difficulties in how sensory information is registered, interpreted, and responded to), challenges with social interactions, including verbal language and interpreting non-verbal cues, as well as anxiety, mental health difficulties, and "meltdown" or "shutdown" responses, all of which can impact academic engagement and educational outcomes (Robertson & BaronCohen, 2017). Accepting the breadth and complexity of these needs, this rapid evidence assessment (REA) will examine approaches for identifying and supporting the needs of autistic children and young people.