Kentish Town Primary School opens pioneering autism resource base

Date:   19/10/11

Kentish Town CofE Primary School will celebrate the opening of their pioneering new autism resource base and other redevelopment works at an opening event tomorrow (Wednesday, 19 October).

It will be the borough’s first autism resource base in a mainstream primary school and will be opened by the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, and children’s author Jane Ray.

The resource base for primary pupils with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the school was built to support the inclusion and integration of 16 pupils with ASD - two per year group - in the mainstream school.

The project was government-funded with a brief to create a resource base for children with autism but also to make improvements in the whole school to benefit all children. Improvements have included:

- enlarged classrooms;
- nursery incorporated into main building, creating a more effective Early Years Foundation Stage;
- improved circulation;
- new boiler;
- improved acoustics;
- new drop-off area for children with autism and physical disabilities.
 
The project was carried out by Camden Council in partnership with the London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS) and Kentish Town CofE Primary School staff and governors.

Calvin Henry, headteacher of Kentish Town CofE Primary School, said: “This is inclusion at its very best. These vulnerable children are provided with a high quality learning experience and environment that is tailored to their individual needs, balanced with being educated alongside their mainstream peers. I am extremely proud of the commitment, determination and vision of my staff, governors and the entire school community who are jointly ensuring the success of this new provision in line with our school’s educational philosophy.”

Councillor Larraine Revah, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said: “By creating more chances for autistic children to be taught alongside their mainstream peers we hope to foster greater understanding and partnership among pupils. We also hope to reduce the need for children to be educated at special schools outside the borough, which also reduces demands on a limited budget for special educational needs.”

Notes to the editor:

- The alterations and additions were successfully carried out over 21 months whilst the school was operating; the final phase was completed in September 2011.
- The first two children with autism were admitted in September 2010 and there are currently six children being taught in the nursery, reception and year one.
- Class teachers and resource base staff work closely together to plan a curriculum which balances class-work with personalised programmes to suit the children’s particular needs. The school works with outside professionals to provide speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration, music therapy, social-skills groups and life-skills lessons as appropriate.
- Though targeted at the children in the resource base, this depth of knowledge and the increased resources benefit all the children in their class. They are learning to respect each other’s needs and to support each other’s learning in a real context which prepares them for being the citizens of the future.
- A similar resource base opened at Acland Burghley secondary school on Friday 14 October.

Ref Code:   PR 1496
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