Bradford Council is a step closer to creating a Communication and Interaction (C&I) Special School for children with severe and complex communication and interaction difficulties, including those with autistic spectrum disorders.
This special school would be in addition to the three new primary and three new secondary special schools planned in the second phase of the district's Building Schools for the Future programme. It would cater for 80 boys and girls aged between three and 19.
A review carried out by Education Bradford in 2006 identified a growing number of children in the district with severe and complex communication and interaction difficulties, including autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) - a term which describes varying degrees of autism, including Asperger's Syndrome. Those affected often have problems with social interaction and communication as well as displaying repetitive behaviour.
Experts believe that children and young people with these problems benefit from being placed at a specialist school, rather than being at a generic special school. And a consultation carried out between the end of June and September 2008 shows parents, health professionals (including speech and language therapists), head teachers and governors would support the move.
The Council's Executive when it meets on Tuesday 14 October will be asked to support plans to create the new school on the site of Thorn Park School for the Deaf at Thorn Lane, Bradford. This school is due to close. When it is vacated the building will be refurbished and adapted to have specialist facilities for the C&I School.
Kath Tunstall, Strategic Director for Children's Services, said: "Research has found that we really need a facility like this in the district as children and young people with severe and complex communication difficulties cannot have their needs fully met in generic special schools. With the backing of parents, teachers, governors and experts in this field I am confidents we can make this a high quality school."
If the Executive give plans the go ahead statutory notices to open the new school can be published at the end of this month. These will give people six weeks in which to submit any comments in favour of or against the proposals.
Officer/Contact
Sue Coleman
Assistant Director - Learning Services
Telephone: 01274 385512
Media Relations Officer
Kathy Grillo
Telephone: 01274 433526
Fax: 01274 432005
Email: press.communications@bradford.gov.uk
Date: 07.10.08
