NEW classes for pupils with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at two schools in Merthyr Tydfil will be made permanent.
On Wednesday, April 2, cabinet approved the formal establishment of new learning resource base classes for pupils with ASD at Dowlais Primary School and Cyfarthfa High School from April 28.
These include a foundation learning ASD class at Dowlais Primary and a key stage three and four complex ASD class at Cyfarthfa High School.
There are currently 11 learning resource bases (LRBs) in mainstream primary schools across the county borough providing places for up to 118 pupils with a range of needs and one LRB in a mainstream secondary school providing places for up to 25 pupils with autistic spectrum disorder that require more specialist provision than can be provided in mainstream.
The capacity of primary-age LRB provision has increased over the last three years due to an increase in the number of pupils with needs that require a more specialist provision, the cabinet report said.
There has been a specific increase in the number of younger pupils in foundation learning with ALN related to ASD and this is why a pilot
provision was set up in Dowlais Primary School from September 2023.
The school has an existing ASD provision at key stage which meant that setting up a foundation learning ASD class would provide continuity of provision and available space to use as an LRB class, the report said.
It said that while provision at primary has increased there has not been a similar increase in provision at secondary but there has been a specific increase in the number of pupils with complex ASD needs requiring more bespoke specialist provision within a smaller setting and a higher staffing ratio than our existing provision can provide or accommodate.
This is why a pilot provision was set up in Cyfarthfa High School from September 2023.
The school had available space within the school’s overall capacity that could be reused as an LRB.
The report said that with the support of both schools, suitable areas were identified to accommodate the LRBs within each school and arrangements were agreed to start both pilots in September 2023.
Following close liaison between the schools and the ALN team during the academic year 2023-24 the pilot was considered successful leading to the conclusion that the provisions are “effective, correctly sited, and staffed,” the cabinet report said.
Statutory notices about the proposals were published on February 13 followed by a 28-day objection period.
No objections were received and no amendments have been made to the proposal.
The required budget to fund both has already been secured within the council’s revenue budget.
