AUTISM ambassador Anna Kennedy has visited a Sanderstead primary school to raise awareness of the condition.

The mother-of-two spoke to parents at Atwood Primary School, in Limpsfield Road, on Thursday, February 9 having spoken to pupils a week earlier.

Mrs Kennedy was invited by Mala Thapar, whose son was bullied at the school because he is autistic.

During the parents-only evening on Thursday, Mrs Kennedy answered questions about autism and how it impacts on family life.

Ms Thapar was thrilled with how both evenings went and said: "They were absolutely fantastic. Atwood is the first mainstream school Anna has visited. The children were completely engaged. An hour-and-a-half just flew by."

Mrs Kennedy set up her own school – Hillingdon Manor, in Uxbridge – after her two autistic sons were refused places at 26 special needs schools.

She has gone on to influence government policies, written a biography and won the Daily Mail's Influential Woman of the Year award 2009.