Moving Autism base to Forest School "an operational decision"

Wednesday 10 March 2021

A dedicated base supporting primary school-age students with special educational needs is being moved from Amherst to Forest School, with Education citing ever-increasing pupil numbers and a shortage of classrooms at the St Peter Port school.

The Communication, Interaction and Autism base will be relocated in September, meaning that a small number of pupils are facing the prospect of moving schools.

Senior educationalists decided the move, which the Head of Education Inclusion Services describes as an operational matter. 

“Accommodation at Amherst has become challenging in recent years due to increased pupil numbers at the school and the move provides children and young people with the very best opportunities to be successful," said Nick Hynes.

"I am very grateful to all the dedicated and skilled staff at Amherst for providing a place for the base over the last number of years but equally excited about the chance to set up a new provision at Forest School with the overwhelming support of staff at the school and our existing CIAS team."

Pictured: Amherst Primary Headteacher Tracey Moore said the children and Base staff "will be in good hands" when they move to Forest.

Education says there are currently nine pupils at Amherst who have "allocated additional access to the CIAS base." However, four of these pupils will move into secondary schools in September.

"We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming the CIAS Base to Forest Primary School," said Paula Sullivan, Headteacher of Forest Primary and Le Rondin.

"We pride ourselves on being an inclusive school community who value the contribution of each and every individual. We view this as a fantastic opportunity to work together with pupils, parents, staff and specialist colleagues."

The decision has not, however, been universally welcomed. Education says that all parents were given a choice to continue at Amherst with additional support or "transition" to an entirely new school.

"Yes we were given a choice, but it very much feels like a forced one," said parent Julie Lunk.

"My son has a Determination of Need and is a named Base child. Apparently his needs could still be met without the Base, hence why we were given the choice for him to stay at Amherst.

"That makes no sense! Why choose to let him stay somewhere where going forward he will receive, in what I see as, a half-baked solution. It's incredible ESC didn't seek to consult us parents before deciding."

It's devastating for parents and children alike. The disruption to routine is a real concern. With so much huff, fluff and U turning on higher education, where has this been put for discussion.? Oversized classes due to more housing in areas? Baffling.

— zoe lihou (@lihou) March 9, 2021

Pictured: The communication of the decision to parents - some of whom will have to uproot their children in order to keep their Base provision - has attracted criticism.

Education says this was an entirely operational matter that was informed by educationalists.

A spokesman said: "Amherst Headteacher Tracey Moore and Jenny Jura, Head of the Communication, Interaction and Autism Service, spoke with the parents of each pupil that this affects directly to seek their views on the move and ensure they understood that they had the choice for their child to remain at Amherst (with ongoing additional support) or transition to Forest in September.

"Parents were reassured that they could contact either Mrs Moore or Mrs Jura if they had any concerns or further questions."

Education says that dedicated staff at Forest, which is partnered with Le Rondin, are already experienced in catering for children with additional needs, who have access to the state-of-the-art sensory facilities at Le Rondin. 

Explaining what the new base will look like, the spokesman said: "The base at Forest will be located centrally within the school – the current one is disjointed from the main school building.

"This will increase the flexibility for pupils to access the base throughout the school day as needed. Equally it can be used as a quiet space to retreat to for students if they need to."