(UK) Reading: "Plans to double the number of school places for children with autism"

July 11, 2018, In Your Area: New centre for children with autism could open at Reading school https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/new-centre-for-children-with-autism-could-open-at-reading-school/ Plans to double the number of school places for children with autism are expected to be approved. Reading Borough Council's Policy Committee will discuss the scheme to build a new specialist centre at Blessed Hugh Faringdon School when it meets on Monday, July 16. Named The Base, the 30-place learning centre for children with austism will replace the existing centre at the school in Fawley Road, Southcote…. There is currently a shortage of special schools for children on the autistic spectrum in Reading, Berkshire. The council says the new centre would help to meet the demand with specialist places at a mainstream school, which would benefit the children and their families, as well as saving money. Planning permission is already in place for the £1.9 million [$2.5M (US)] project which the council aims to have open in September 2019. … Councillor Ashley Pearce, Reading's lead member for education said: "The Base will provide a modern new teaching environment for children with autism and will help meet the growing demand for secondary SEND places. "A number of children currently have to travel outside the borough which can be inconvenient for families and can result in higher placement and travel costs for the council….