Consultation starts this week on redesigning the services offered by the Royal Borough to children with difficulties caused by speech and language impairments and autism.
The proposal - out for consultation until the end of September - focuses on providing one overall cohesive service for mainstream schools bringing together the provision for children with communication and interaction difficulties.
Most pupils currently attend their local mainstream school, with advice from specialists including the Specialist Autism Mainstream Service (SAMS) and the NHS Speech and Language Therapy Service (SALT). Pupils with more severe needs may attend one of three resourced units at Altwood, Ellington and Furze Platt senior schools. These are all currently separate.
One service
The new proposal is for one service to provide not only a range of specialist advice but also new teaching bases.
There will be advice for schools from specialists in communication and interaction difficulties, including SAMS and SALT; and there will be new teaching bases for the neediest pupils in place of the current resourced units but not necessarily in the same schools as at present.
This proposal will ensure that the advice will come from a single source covering the different kinds of expertise; will more effectively help schools make provision for pupils with these difficulties; and in time should mean fewer children with these needs will have to be educated outside the Royal Borough.
No children will have to change from their current schools as a result of this proposal.
Cllr Eileen Quick, lead member for children’s services, said: “This consultation is all about changing the balance of services for children with communication difficulties by providing more integrated expertise for mainstream schools. We want children to be able to have their individual needs met in their local schools. And we are especially keen to keep the expertise of existing specialists within the borough in the new service.
“This will be a service to help reach more children in ordinary classrooms than at present. We have every intention of maintaining current investment in the system.
“But we really do want to hear what people think about these proposals - in particular everyone involved in working with children who have these special needs. So I would urge everyone with an interest to take part in this consultation so that we can plan the best way forward.”
Copies of the consultation can be viewed at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/consultation_communication_interaction_provision.htm <http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/consultation_communication_interaction_provision.htm>.
To request a printed copy call 01628 796779.
Email responses should be addressed to
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, or by post to Communication and Interaction Consultation, Special Educational Needs, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 1RF.
The consultation began on Monday (July 14) and closes on Tuesday September 30. Following the consultation, a recommendation will be put forward to Council in 2009.
