Further specialist support for children with autism

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are set to receive specialist support at Pencoed Primary School.

Pupils, staff, parents, governors, Estyn and the wider community have reacted positively to a public consultation over a proposal to establish a specialist learning resource centre at the school that would welcome children from across the county borough.

Cabinet Members from Bridgend County Borough Council have been hearing the results of the consultation this week, and a statutory notice will now be issued so that any further comments can be considered within the next 28 days.

Provided there are no serious objections, the new learning resource centre will open at the school in time for the new term in September

The number of people with autism spectrum disorder is rising so we’ve been taking major steps to ensure that these young people can receive specialist support to meet their needs within a mainstream school environment whenever possible.

A learning resource centre has already been established at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd so that Welsh-speaking children with autism could continue their secondary school education through the medium of Welsh.

We are also developing a proposal to set up a resource at one of our Welsh-medium primary schools, so a lot of progress is being made.

Councillor Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration

The facility at Pencoed Primary School would accommodate a maximum of eight pupils from Years 3 to 6 (ages 7 to 11) in the class with one teacher and two learning support officers. The curriculum will be tailored to meet their needs.

The council has published the full consultation report and has issued the statutory notice which invites any formal written objections.