Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise, on the review of progress against the National Autistic Society (NAS) Report 2008 for Halton Borough Council.

            The Board was advised that, in 2008, NAS was commissioned to undertake a review of provision within the Borough for children and adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. The recommendations from this report and the associated action plans were monitored through internal processes. However, after three years, Halton Borough Council commissioned an independent and objective strategic review of progress.

            The Board was reminded that at its meeting in November 2011, it had agreed a set of objectives for this review. The NAS was commissioned to carry out the review which started in December 2011and took place over four visits to Halton. It was reported that overall, the review team concluded that Halton Borough Council had made good progress against the majority of the 2008 recommendations. A development plan had been prepared which addressed the 17 recommendations from the 2012 NAS review, which was attached to the report.

Reason for decision

The NAS report recommended the re-designing of Ashley School as an ASD specific 11-19 school in order to meet the continuum needs locally. The re-designation of Ashley School would ensure that local provision met the needs of pupils with ASC. This would ensure that pupils stay within their communities. The cost of out of Borough provision would also be reduced with significant saving to the Council.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

The only other option available was for pupils to be educated out of Borough away from their families, peers and communities at a significant cost to the Council.

Implementation Date

Formal consultations would commence as soon as the proposal had been approved by Executive Board. A formal public consultation process and time line would be drawn up. The re-designation should be completed during the 2012/13 academic year.

            RESOLVED: That

1)    the NAS report be endorsed and the recommendations in the attached Development Plan be approved; and

2)    approval be given for formal consultation on the re-designation of Ashley Special School as an 11-19  school for pupils with ASC.