Published: Monday, 15th March, 2010 10:00am

Autism unit for primary school

by Adam Hewitt

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Reading Borough Council's Cabinet will make its decision at its meeting at the Civic Centre at 6.30pm.

EDUCATION chiefs are expected to give the final go-ahead to a specialist autism unit at a primary school at their meeting tonight.

The centre at Christ The King primary school in Lulworth Road, Whitley, will support 10 children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) from throughout Reading borough, offering specialist teaching across ability levels and for those with complex problems such as very high anxiety.

There are seven primary aged pupils living in Reading with ASD, who get specialist education outside of the borough but paid for by Reading Borough Council, at an average cost of £45,000 per placement.

Reading's Cabinet will make its decision tonight and officers have recommended that councillors approve the plans.

Head of school improvement and inclusion, Kim Bergamasco, said in her report to Cabinet: "These pupils will need to spend the majority of their time within the specialist centre. However they will need opportunities to gain both social and other learning experiences via interaction with their mainstream primary peers. This will be via supported access, as appropriate, within the mainstream setting."

A consultation with families, staff and governors at the school in January and February showed no objection to the plans.

The council has budgeted £128,000 for the ten places, to be given directly to the school, but this could be increased to fund part of the costs of a family support worker. This depends on the decision of the borough's Schools' Forum, made up mostly of school staff.

For a full report of the Cabinet meeting, see Thursday's Chronicle.