Autism unit bid for Sacred Heart School in Battersea (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Autism unit bid for Sacred Heart School in Battersea

12:50pm Saturday 7th November 2009

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Sacred Heart Primary School in Battersea may get a new unit to cope with a rise in children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD).

The proposal for the ASD “resource base” is up for approval by the council executive later this month, and would open in September 2012.

The borough has seen the number of children with diagnosed ASD more than double in the last seven years, according to a report presented to the Children and Young People’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday.

Paul Robinson, director of children’s services, wrote: “The proposal would establish additional specialist provision within the borough for children with ASD who would benefit from a mainstream school environment, but who would also benefit from access to specialist support and expertise in relation to their ASD.”

The £605,000 project would create a new building for 16 to 20 children on the school’s site, to be managed by the headteacher, Jared Brading.

The council reports 474 children in Wandsworth were identified as having ASD in November 2008, compared with just 161 in November 2001.

By 2015, that figure could reach 600 if recent trends continue.

This has placed pressure on the existing ASD units at Southmead School and Smallwood Language Unit.

Some pupils were not able to be accommodated and were placed in independent schools.

ASD, which describes a group of disorders, including autism and Asperger syndrome, affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them.

A spokesman for the National Autistic Society said: "There is some evidence to show that autism prevalence may be increasing but it is currently unclear whether this is down to improved diagnosis and broadening diagnostic criteria.

“It is absolutely crucial that local authorities accurately determine how many people with autism there are in their area so they can plan and deliver the services and support which people with autism and their families really need."

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