This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-64488198
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hampshire charity plans new school run by autistic adults | Hampshire charity plans new school run by autistic adults |
| (4 months later) | |
| Nine-year-old Cassie could be one of the children who attend the new school | Nine-year-old Cassie could be one of the children who attend the new school |
| Nine-year-old Cassie could be one of the children who attend the new school | Nine-year-old Cassie could be one of the children who attend the new school |
| A charity wants to open what it thinks would be the first Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school run by autistic adults in England. | A charity wants to open what it thinks would be the first Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school run by autistic adults in England. |
| More Education already operates a support hub for families in Andover, Hampshire. | More Education already operates a support hub for families in Andover, Hampshire. |
| The group is trying to build a specialist school within the region but has struggled to find a site after searching for more than a year. | The group is trying to build a specialist school within the region but has struggled to find a site after searching for more than a year. |
| It says it has funding in place through donations, grants and fundraising. | It says it has funding in place through donations, grants and fundraising. |
| The independent not-for-profit school would cater for up to 60 children, aged five to 16, who have had a formal assessment of their needs by a council, known as an EHC plan. | The independent not-for-profit school would cater for up to 60 children, aged five to 16, who have had a formal assessment of their needs by a council, known as an EHC plan. |
| Cassie, 9, who is autistic and also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has received extra support at her mainstream school. | Cassie, 9, who is autistic and also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has received extra support at her mainstream school. |
| But her mum Jane said she would be keen to send her daughter to the new school. | But her mum Jane said she would be keen to send her daughter to the new school. |
| "They [would] have a better understanding of who she is. When you have a child with special needs… each day is different," she said. | "They [would] have a better understanding of who she is. When you have a child with special needs… each day is different," she said. |
| A number of potential locations have fallen through for various reasons, including land availability and the need for outdoor space. | A number of potential locations have fallen through for various reasons, including land availability and the need for outdoor space. |
| Mark Rist, from the charity, said he was hoping a site could be found soon | Mark Rist, from the charity, said he was hoping a site could be found soon |
| Mark Rist, the group's head of education, said demand for a new SEND school was "huge", with the number of pupils in England with special educational needs rising since 2016. | Mark Rist, the group's head of education, said demand for a new SEND school was "huge", with the number of pupils in England with special educational needs rising since 2016. |
| "Already we have a waiting list… but we need the bricks and mortar to do it," he said. | "Already we have a waiting list… but we need the bricks and mortar to do it," he said. |
| Tori Rist, head of operations at More Education, was diagnosed with autism and ADHD after her young daughter struggled at school and was found to have the condition. | Tori Rist, head of operations at More Education, was diagnosed with autism and ADHD after her young daughter struggled at school and was found to have the condition. |
| She said: "We are very out and about being autistic. We are very proud about our brains. | She said: "We are very out and about being autistic. We are very proud about our brains. |
| "These children are our inventors, our scientists, our mathematicians or our artists but if they're not given that… safe environment to learn how can they reach their potential?" | "These children are our inventors, our scientists, our mathematicians or our artists but if they're not given that… safe environment to learn how can they reach their potential?" |
| Last year, a survey by a head teachers' union showed nearly all schools that responded felt there was insufficient funding to support pupils who had special needs. | Last year, a survey by a head teachers' union showed nearly all schools that responded felt there was insufficient funding to support pupils who had special needs. |
| The results of a government review of the system are yet to be published. | The results of a government review of the system are yet to be published. |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Andover | Andover |
| Hampshire |