New unit to support children with autism opens in Hillingdon
Learning space created for children aged 4 to 11 with autism spectrum conditions is the first of its kind in the London borough, says council
A designated unit for children with autism has been officially opened at Wood End Park Academy in Hayes in west London. The Anil Bhatt Building provides a designated space for 24 children of primary school age to learn with specialist teaching and support tailored to their individual needs. By locating the new unit within an existing school, the children are also able to integrate into the mainstream school environment for some key elements of their week, alongside their peers.
The official opening of the new Anil Bhatt Building was attended by Cllr Colleen Sullivan, Mayor of Hillingdon – photo courtesy of Hillingdon Council.
The new unit, which is named in memory of the school’s late special education needs coordinator, has been opened in response to growing demand in the borough for educational facilities for children with autism – a demand also seen nationally.
The pre-existing building formerly housed a canteen, library and music room. This provision is now to be found elsewhere in the school. Following extensive refurbishment, the Anil Bhatt Building now boasts three classrooms, a sensory room and occupational therapy room. New double glazing, LED lighting and cladding have seen its energy performance certification upgraded from E to A.
The official opening of the new unit this month was attended by Cllr Colleen Sullivan, Mayor of Hillingdon.
The new facility is part of the council’s commitment to provide support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). One of the five ambitions of the Hillingdon Local Area SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy 2023-28 is to ensure that ‘children and young people [in the borough] can live happy and fulfilled lives’, which includes access to the best possible educational opportunities.
Cllr Susan O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Hillingdon Council, says: ‘Our school improvement and expansion programme is delivering much-needed additional school places in the borough for children with SEND. This new unit is one example of how we are supporting children with additional needs in a mainstream school setting, helping them to develop and thrive from an early age with opportunities for learning in a nurturing environment. The refurbished building is also more energy efficient, supporting our ambition for a green and sustainable borough.’
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