NEW classes for pupils with autism spectrum disorder at a Merthyr Tydfil primary and secondary school are being consulted on.
A consultation is under way on formally setting up what are known as learning resource bases (LRBs) at Dowlais Primary School at the foundation phase and Cyfarthfa High School for key stages three and four to cater for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
These have been piloted since September 2023 and the proposals include a 10-place foundation phase learning resource base for pupils with ASD at Dowlais Primary School (ages 4-11) and an eight-place key stage three and four learning resource base for pupils with ASD and associated complex behavioural needs at Cyfarthfa High School (ages 11- 16).
The council currently has 11 English-medium learning resource bases in mainstream primary schools across the county borough, providing places for up to 118 pupils.
The council is also currently going through the consultation process on the establishment of a Welsh-medium primary learning resource base.
The council says that the capacity of learning resource bases has increased over the past three years due to an increase in the number of pupils with needs that require a more specialist provision than mainstream schools are able to provide.
There has also been a specific increase in the number of younger pupils – those in the foundation phase – with additional learning needs (ALN) related to ASD and it is for that reason that the capacity of its ALN provision in this area needed to increase.
The learning resource base at Dowlais primary will be located within the mainstream school and the class will have fewer pupils than a mainstream class with a higher ratio of adults per pupil.
In terms of the Cyfarthfa High School proposals, the council currently has one English-medium learning resource base in a mainstream secondary school, providing places for up to 25 pupils with ASD needs that require more specialist provision than can be provided in mainstream.
The council says that whilst provision at primary has increased it has not seen a similar increase in provision at secondary.
But it says that there has been a specific increase in the number of pupils with complex ASD needs requiring more bespoke specialist provision within a smaller setting than the existing provision can provide or accommodate.
The increase in this need for more bespoke ASD provision has resulted in the council deciding that a different provision should be established, smaller in size, with a higher staffing ratio, to meet the specific needs of this group of pupils.
The learning resource base will be located within the mainstream school and will have fewer pupils than a mainstream class and with a higher ratio of adults per pupil.
The council says there will be no detrimental impact on the mainstream provision of the schools, or any other school within the county borough.
Entry and exit to the LRBs will be decided by the council’s ALN panel, who meet frequently to discuss individual pupils referred for specialist provision.
