Type of service: Day schools, Schools

The Acorn Centre is a class at Westwood Community Primary School, which is resourced to give quality education to young children with autism. It is shared between Wrexham and Flintshire. Whilst open minded about any methodology that benefits the children, those attending the Acorn Centre will be taught via the application of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) techniques. Programme Therapists teach children individually or sometimes in a small group. Advanced Therapists, who in turn are supervised and guided by a Programme Supervisor, oversee programme Therapists. The Programme Supervisor is 'on site' for three days per week. Every three months, the children are seen by a Programme Consultant from Autism Partnership, based in the USA. Frequent visits are made by Dr John McEachin, who is Co-Director of Autism Partnership. Entry to Westwood is determined by the Local Education Authority (LEA) Moderation Panels. There are criteria for entry, but the main stipulations are that the child must have a diagnosis of autism and a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN). The decision for the child to transfer to alternative provision will follow the review meetings where the child's progress and this outcome have been discussed and agreed. The Centre provides a working programme for children up to the end of National Curriculum Year Two. Volunteers may be accepted to work with the pupils and must be Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked.

Aimed at: Child

Covers: Flintshire, Wrexham

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements