As I recently announced, it is my intention to make education services available through the month of July in all special facilities catering for children with autism. The extended coverage involved will be supported at the same level as applies throughout the normal school year. This will involve the deployment of a special class teacher and two special needs assistants for each class of six children through the July period.
My Department is currently finalising detailed proposals for the operation of the extended service and will shortly be consulting with the relevant managerial authorities and teacher representatives with a view to securing agreement on the proposed arrangements. I am confident that the proposals being developed by my Department to facilitate this important extension of service for children with autism will secure the support of the management and staff of the schools in question who have always shown enormous commitment to the children in their care. I also point out that such an extended service has been in place for some time in a range of special schools catering for children with severe or profound general learning disabilities.
Based on the level of provision currently in place for children with autism and the anticipated further demand for such services, it is estimated that the extension of service through the month of July will involve an additional annual cost of approximately £500,000. The question of extending the July coverage to other categories of special needs children will be kept under review in my Department.
