Council launches consultation over school for children with autism
Amrit Virdi
Monday, February 12, 2024
Newcastle City Council has taken steps to increase its provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with plans to establish a new school for children with autism.
The proposed school will be built in Allendale Road in the east of the city and will be able to support 192 children aged between four and 16 years old with a range of abilities and differences associated with autism.
The first step in the process to secure approval is a five-week public consultation which was launched on 6 February, as the council will follow the Department for Education’s Free School Presumption process to appoint a multi-academy trust (MAT) to run the school. A feasibility study will also be carried out to establish proposed costs for the site.
After these steps, a full report will be prepared for the council's cabinet detailing the plans.
A range of specialist facilities and activities to support children's learning and development are planned to be provided at the school, which has been proposed in line with a growth in the number of children diagnosed with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The school will provide: “High quality specialist teaching, high quality therapies and health provision on site”, “specialist outreach support to mainstream schools to support pupils with autism”, support for families and help for young people as they transition into adulthood, according to the council.
Councillor Nick Kemp, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “There has been an increasing demand for services that specialise in supporting young people with autism. The creation of this new facility will help address this and ensure more children and young people receive the support they need in an environment where they can thrive.
“These proposals demonstrate our continued commitment to improving services and supporting our children and young people into a successful future.”
Meanwhile, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission are set to carry out a series of in depth reviews to address concerns families have about how young people with SEND are being prepared for adulthood.
