Type of service: Day schools, Schools

The school was selected as the site of the first primary Designated Special Provision (DSP) for children with autism in 1993. It remains the only primary provision in the authority to date and is heavily over-subscribed. Originally the pupils were in the age range 5 - 13 years although this has now changed and the age of the pupils follows that of the mainstream school. The DSP caters for the full primary age range and has a capacity for 14 children who are catered for by a team of 2 teachers, 2 teaching assistants and a nursery nurse. There is also regular in-put from a speech and language therapist. Children admitted to the DSP are all in receipt of a Statement of Need. There is a rigorous process of admission and children must be able to benefit from a placement in a mainstream environment. The principle aim of a placement is to support children so that they are able to return/move to their local mainstream school. We do, however, offer continuous support for children who require a place in the DSP for the duration of their primary education. The children all follow the National Curriculum, including the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) and National Numeracy Strategy (NNS). Work is undertaken in small groups with supported inclusion to mainstream classes as appropriate. Volunteers may be accepted to work with the pupils under certain very specific criteria and dependent on object of work and vulnerability of pupils.

Aimed at: Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements