(Cabinet Member Decision – 25 August 2010)
SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL
THE CABINET
CABINET MEMBER NON-KEY DECISION
Proposal for an Autism Base in Somerset
Cabinet Member(s): Mr J Osman, Cabinet Member-Children & Young People
Contact Details: Peter Harnett email: PHarnett@somerset.gov.uk Tel: 01823 334475
Date of Decision: 25 August 2010
Date of publication of decision: 25 August 2010
Date decision comes into force: 1 September 2010
1. Cabinet Member Decision
The Cabinet Member-Children and Young People agreed the proposal to
commence statutory consultation with Heathfield Community School stakeholders in
September 2010 regarding the establishment of an Autism Base at Heathfield
School Monkton Heathfield.
2. Reason for Decision (s)
As set out in the attached officer report.
3. Reason(s) for Urgency (where applicable)
Not applicable.
4. Any relevant Personal Interest that the Cabinet Member may have under the
Council’s Code of Conduct for members.
None.
5. Other background information considered by the Cabinet Member before
making this decision.
As set out in the attached officer report.
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Officer Report
– 5 August 2010
Proposal for an Autism Base in Somerset
Cabinet Member: Mr J Osman – Cabinet Member for Children and Young People
Division and Local Member: Mrs E Waymouth – Staplegrove Division
Lead Officer: Peter Harnett, Autism Strategic Lead, CYPD
Author: Peter Harnett
Contact Details: PHarnett@somerset.gov.uk Tel: 01823 334475
Please complete sign off boxes below prior to submission to Community Governance
Seen by: Name Sign & Date
Legal Nina Hirst 23.08.10
Corporate Finance Kevin Nacey 11.08.10
Report Sign off Human Resources Ian Mosley 09.08.10
Senior Manager Alan Moss 16.08.10
Corporate Director Bob Clark 18.08.10
Cabinet Member John Osman 19.08.10
On 14th June, 2010 the Cabinet Member for Children and Young
People approved the proposal to start informal consultations
with Heathfield Community School stakeholders, prior to
statutory consultation commencing in September 2010,
regarding the establishment of an Autism Base at Heathfield
Community School, Monkton Heathfield.
Heathfield School wrote to all parents during July, 2010 to
explain the proposed project. There were no objections. Three
Summary:
replies to the letter, all of which were extremely positive have
been received. The School’s Leadership Team and Senco have
indicated that Heathfield School staff are positive about the
project. it is also understood that the School’s students are also
supportive of the project.
The project has been discussed at several governor meetings,
including the full Governing Body, which expressed it’s support
for the proposal.
The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People is
recommended to approve the proposal to commence statutory
Recommendations: consultation with Heathfield Community School stakeholders in
September 2010 regarding the establishment of an Autism Base
at Heathfield School Monkton Heathfield.
A base at Heathfield Community School would be appropriate to
Reasons for address the requirement for an Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Recommendations: (ASD) Base in Somerset.
Links to Priorities Links to priorities to increase inclusion of children in their own
and Impact on communities, increase equal access to education and to reduce
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Service Plans: dependence on independent specialist placement. Contributes
to SEN Plan “Reducing the need for independent specialist
provision” (annex to EIS Plan).
Capital has already been agreed and set aside. Revenue costs
are built into forward budgeting and will be more than off-set by
savings on the out of county SEN budget.
£360,000 capital agreed through Capital Strategy Group and
members as part of CYPD Capital Strategy for 2010/11.
Financial Revenue funding for staffing and resources identified through re-
Implications: allocation of the independent specialist schools budget (approx
£150,000 per year in 2009/10 figures).
Placements at ASD resource bases will typically cost £30,000
per pupil per year; placements at independent specialist school
range from £80,000 (day provision) to £250,000 (boarding).
Equalities This provision will retain children and young people in their own
Implications: communities; it will provide Somerset based employment.
a) planning not granted - ensure good consulting with all
stakeholders; ensure well informed dialogue with
planners
b) unable to recruit suitable staff - experience to date
suggests we can recruit very good staff – we can also
provide good induction and CPD;
c) lack of pupils needing the base - number of pupils with
Risk Assessment:
high ASD needs in the West of the County has
dramatically increased from 1 in 2002/3 to around 25
at the present. Evidence from casework indicates an
increase in the numbers of pupils needing specialist
support. Since publication of prevous report. There has
been even greater demand for specialist provision.
Scrutiny Not Applicable
Recommendation
(if any)
1. Background
1.1. Introduction
Young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are now part of the community
in many primary schools and all secondary schools within Somerset. As schools
develop their inclusive practice and adapt what they offer more and more
successfully, an increasing number of pupils not only cope with the demands of
mainstream schools but thrive socially, emotionally and academically. However,
there is a minority of pupils for whom the challenge of the school environment, both
physical and social, is considerable and can be overwhelming. These pupils often
end up out of school, which may create further anxiety and stress for them and their
families. Further down the line they may be educated in the independent sector,
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away from their family, peers and their community. These pupils may need a more
focused, specialist provision, in addition to that which the school will usually
provide, in order to help them to function positively and to learn the skills necessary
for success in adult life.
As an inclusive authority, Somerset has undertaken to provide a range of provision
for pupils with ASD and to support mainstream schools in developments that will
meet the needs of pupils with ASD. This means building on what we already do
and developing new and exciting local options.
1.2. The key stones of local options will be school based autism resources bases,
hosted in one school in each area of Somerset, but serving the whole area in terms
of providing for youngsters with ASD who need that specialist provision.
We have approached several schools, where it might be appropriate to provide
ASD bases; however, there are a large number of barriers that mitigate against this,
including lack of space, reluctance of governors to support such a project, and other
school priorities. We are thus lucky in Taunton to have found a school, where
current good practice in autism reflects the ethos of an inclusive school and where
staff and governors see a role for an ASD base.
2. Options Considered
2.1. Kingsmead Community School, Wiveliscombe was approached and was
supportive; however we felt that Heathfield Community School, Monkton Heathfield
was a better option in terms of pupils travelling to the base.
3. Consultations undertaken
3.1. Heathfield Community school: meetings have taken place with the senior
leadership team over the last 18 months. The proposals have also been through
governor committee and full governors. Staff have been consulted. Parents have
been consulted - all parents were written to during July 2010. There were no
objections and all the replies were very supportive.
3.2. The National Autistic Society is very supportive of this endeavour, which they would
see as a key part of their campaign “Make schools make sense”, which Somerset
County Council has signed up to. In talking to local parents of children with ASD,
we know that there is a huge enthusiasm for such a project amongst parents of
children with ASD.
The Area Education Manager has been briefed on this project and is updated
regularly.
4. Implications
4.1. We still have a number of pupils with ASD from the Taunton area, who are
accessing independent ASD provision, often far away from their community. This is
costly in financial terms to the County Council and costly to the children and their
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families in terms of emotional and social well being.
We also have a number of pupils who are supported in mainstream schools, but for
whom the placement becomes increasingly problematic and often breaks down.
The establishment of ASD bases in schools is part of a response to this, alongside
the creation of the two off-site bases in Frome and Long Sutton. This should result
in fewer pupils needing independent provision, better life chances for those pupils
and a better range of options available for families of children with ASD in
Somerset.
Since the bases will be part of the County Autism and Communication Service,
these developments will be part of our inclusion work across all schools.
5. Background papers
5.1. “A proposal for an autism base in Somerset County Council” - Peter Harnett
5.2. “Developing specialist autism provision in Somerset” – Peter Harnett
Note For sight of individual background papers please contact the report author
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A PROPOSAL FOR AN AUTISM BASE IN SOMERSET
The local authority is developing autism specialist bases (ASD bases) across the
county.
Following the success achieved by the two off-site Autism Bases, the Autism and
Communication Service is looking for host schools that could provide a calm and
nurturing environment for youngsters with ASD who find mainstream school
particularly difficult.
These autism bases are referred to as Model B in the information below.
We are looking for a school with a strong pastoral and SEN tradition that would
provide an excellent context for hosting an ASD base.
Peter Harnett
County Autism and Communication Manager
25th May 2010 (there are no changes in this document as at 6.8.10)
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SPECIALIST AUTISM PROVISION IN SOMERSET (25.5.10)
Why develop specialist autism bases ?
Some able pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD):
find it very difficult to thrive in the mainstream classroom
need a calming environment for some of the school day
need support from ASD specialist staff
need somewhere apart where they can be themselves
need particular input to prepare them for life
Specialist bases in mainstream schools:
• address these issues
• allow pupils to access a mainstream school
• decrease stress and anxiety for pupils with ASD
• empower mainstream staff to meet these pupils’ needs
• have an excellent track record in other local authorities
• result in better behaviour
The way forward in Somerset
We shall provide:
• Advisory and consultancy support to all mainstream schools
• ASD specialist resource bases in one mainstream school in each of the four
Somerset areas (Model B)
• Two off-site secondary age ASD bases
• Special school provision for pupils with ASD who have moderate or severe learning
difficulties
A Continuum of Provision
We have three models of in-county provision:
• Model A: Access to school support (often funded through Action Plus) with advice
and consultation from the Autism Team
• Model B: Placement in a specialist ASD resource base, hosted by a
mainstream school and with:
o Specialist staff
o Tailored accommodation
o ASD structured approaches
o Support from county Autism Team and other ASD specialists
o Support into mainstream activities where appropriate
• Model C: Placement in an off-site ASD base if:
o school environment not suitable
o time away from school is needed
o very specialist structures and regimes are needed
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Models of Provision
Model Key Description Summary of Provision Funding
A Children and young • Personalised learning AWPU
people with autism able curriculum. School Action
to succeed in a • Support from area ASD School Action Plus
mainstream school. advisory teacher.
B Children and young • Flexible personalised Staffing through central
people with autism who learning curriculum ASD team funding plus
need access to a through ASD base and integration allowance
specialist ASD base on mainstream curriculum
a mainstream site. provision.
C Children and young • Flexible education Staffing through central ASD
people with autism who programme through ASD team
need provision at an off- base staff. Funding plus SAP
site base. • Collaboration with local
mainstream schools.
Staffing, management and training
• Specialist teacher in charge and specialist teachers assistants
• Professional line-management by Autism Team
• Day to day line-management by host school
• Preparation and on-going training for school staff
Admissions, funding and effects on school roll
• Clear pathway through local assessment and Autism Team
• All stakeholders involved in admissions, including host school
• Final decision ratified by Complex Cases Panel
• Training provided for school staff, governors and pupils
• Capital and revenue provided by county – COST NEUTRAL FOR SCHOOL
Tiers and Placement Provision
Type of Placement Description Statement On roll?
Assessment Usually half a term to No statement Remains on roll of
placement a full term required current school
Short-term support Between one term No statement Remains on roll of
placement and one year required current school
Formal placement Longer term Statement required, On roll of host school
placement naming host school (of ASD base)
Benefits and challenges for the host school
• ASD specialist strategies inform curriculum delivery and pastoral support to all
pupils
• Calm and nurturing approach of ASD base will have a positive effect in a school
• All governors, staff and pupils will need to be involved – training implications
• Parents of other children will need to be aware of positive nature of developing a
base and the ways in which it will benefit their children
• Other pupils in school will be better able to understand needs of individuals with
ASD – implications for PHSE, Citizenship and Community programmes.
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