Type of service: Day schools, Schools

Williamstown Primary School Communication Disorders Class (CDC) is a specialist unit within a mainstream school. There are two CDC classes at Williamstown: Key Stage 2 (KS2) which has 9 pupils and Foundation Phase currently 6 pupils. Ruth is the teacher in Foundation Phase class. All children within the class have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or have problems associated with communication. Every child has a weekly session with the speech and language therapist (SALT). Children usually have complex needs but the primary need is that of communication. Children may be organised and educated as a class, in a group, in pairs or indeed on a 1:1 basis depending on the needs of the child and the topic or task in hand. Whenever and wherever possible children are included or integrated into mainstream classes, with support from our staff. All children integrate socially at Assembly, play and lunch times, Staff in the CDC work collaboratively with paediatric consultants at the Royal Glamorgan hospital who diagnose the children; speech and language therapists who work with the children in school; occupational therapists who assess and work with the children in Dewi Sant Hospital and also in school where they liaise with our staff; the educational psychologist; social services; the child and family clinic and of course the parents. Volunteers may be accepted to work with the pupils..

Aimed at: Child , Young person

Covers: Rhondda Cynon Taf

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Learning disability