Sept 25, 2020, Middlesborough Gazette: ‘More than just a school’: New education and autism support in South Bank https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/new-school-autism-community-centre-18992225 NE England A new school to help autistic youngsters has opened on Teesside. The North East Autism Society (NEAS) works to help the region’s autistic children, young people, adults and families. Now, as it marks its 40th anniversary, it has opened a new facility to continue its life changing work. The new school and community facility The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre, can be found in South Bank and will offer support to families in the south of the region. “We’re delighted to be able to serve families from this part of the region by finally being able to open our doors to welcome in students, many of whom have been out of education for a substantial amount of time. “We’ve worked really hard to refurbish the centre, which had previously been used for office space, and we are thrilled with the bright, spacious environment we now have,” said Tracey Train, principal. They have welcomed their first cohort of students this week, to the building formerly known as the Cooper Centre, and they will provide autism-specific education for those aged between five and 19 years of age. This is the third of its kind in this region for the charity and The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre already has a growing waiting list of students…. “Autistic and neurodiverse children have the same rights to a meaningful education as every other child, and we are delighted to be able to expand our reach into the Teesside in order to open our third school.”
