ARC Referral- 2014-2016 Contact Jenny Muirhead- 07772 441559
Swindon Autism Support Service
Now taking referrals for pupils aged 4-16 affected by autism or related difficulty to access sessions of therapeutic social skills activity.
Autism Resource Centre
ARC
What is ARC?
Swindon ARC bases offer an enhanced education programme of social communication and therapeutic learning activity led by an ASC teacher or Senior ASC Worker and experienced ASC support staff for pupils between the ages of 4 and 16. These will be pupils/students with a core difficulty around social communication and interaction who may or may not have a diagnosis of autism. They may be on a reduced timetable, undergoing gradual integration/re- integration to school, struggling to function in school and access lessons in school or perhaps at risk of exclusion where school staff and parents are looking to be proactive in managing difficult times. Our aim is to support schools to target some of their SEN focussed delegated funding and/or pupil premium where appropriate, to meet pupil need and positively work towards maintaining a successful school placement.
Currently there are 4 ARC bases in operation:
ARC Group:where and when / Age ranges catered for and programmes offered: / Contact for information:
ARC Highworth
Monday- Friday am and pm sessions / KS1/KS2/KS3
Structured Teaching/therapy/Social Communication skills / Bill Rigg: 07580 877466
Anne Walecki 07772 439423
ARC Second Sight
Stratton Youth Centre
Monday- Friday am and pm sessions / KS2
Structured Teaching/therapy/Social Communication skills / Julie Scarisbrick:
07580 877638
ARC Underground
Orbital
Monday pm 12.45pm- 3.00pm / KS3/4 - Social Communication/PHSE / Lynn Woods:
07805 608374
ARC Liberty
Commonweal School
Tuesday 4.00pm- 6.00pm / KS3/4 Girls -Social Communication/PHSE / Helen Dack:
07580 877584
How does it work?
Depending on the programme applied for on behalf of a pupil/student, schools are invited to commission us to provide between 1 and 5 sessions a week for ASC/SCID affected pupils who would access the sessions on a short/medium or longer term basis as needed. The focus would always be on addressing core ASC related issues through intensive intervention and explicit teaching of the social curriculum, management of anxiety and developing sensory tolerances to support successful inclusion into the main school environment. In short an ARC programme can be anything from a 'readiness for school' to a ‘crisis response’ and will be bespoke around individual pupil need.
An ARC ‘session’ is offered as a complete package of pupil/student collection by ASC Outreach staff, (although some parents may choose to transport the young people themselves) attendance and activity at the ARC and then return to school/home. Morning sessions are collection between 8.30am and 9.15am depending on location of school/child’s home within Swindon and return between 11.45am and 12.15pm. Afternoon sessions are collection between 12.15pm and 12.45pm with return to school/home by 3.15-3.45pm.
What will it cost?
While ARC is allied to Swindon Autism Outreach and Support Services, it offers an enhanced and additional level of support and intervention for pupils over and above what is covered by our core ASC Advisory and ASC Outreach Service funding. ARC does not receive any funding from the local authority and has to be self supporting.
ARC charges are tiered dependent on child’s level of need. The assessment process prior to accepting a referral will include a comprehensive risk assessment the outcome of which will assist us in determining safe staffing levels and therefore the charge band that the child will be allocated. These charges will enable us to employ specialist staff, operate and run therapies and activities and manage transportation. Schools will be invoiced termly (six charging periods through the school year) from Uplands School which hosts the Swindon Autism Advisory and Outreach Service.
The three bands of charges will be:
· Band a) £45 per session – approximately 85% of accepted referrals fall into this category
· Band b) £60 per session- approximately 10% of accepted referrals fall into this category
· Band c) £75 per session- approximately 5% of accepted referrals fall into this category
These charges will be fixed until April 2016 and then subject to review.
How do we refer a child to ARC?
We expect the majority of referrals to be made directly from schools and academies, as outcomes of actions from TAC /SOS/ CHiN processes, but we acknowledge that enquiry may also come from SENAT and other agencies. We are happy to discuss and advise around the benefit or otherwise of a placement at ARC with any professional.
In the first instance, if a referral to ARC is being considered, this should be discussed with the parents/carers of the affected pupil and contact made with any of the Senior Members of the ASC Advisory and Outreach team (details below) to explore suitability of this intervention.
Jenny Muirhead ASC Advisory Lead: 07772 441559
Penny Seymour ASC Advisory Teacher: 07772 439912
Bill Rigg Advisory Teacher/ARC Manager: 07580 877466
A description of the ARC facility is given in the parent/carer letter and there is a slip for parents to return to school and you to pass onto us which gives parental permission for their child to attend ARC and participate in ARC activities.
Once these initial enquiries and discussions have been made, schools are invited to provide some key information on the ARC Referral Form below and forward this along with the parental permission slip to or to Jenny Muirhead, Salt Way Centre, Pearl Road, Middleleaze, Swindon SN5 5TD.
How do we review the placement? How long can the pupil attend ARC?
Placements can last for one term (6 weeks) or several terms. In practice, to properly address presenting need the length of the programme of attendance at ARC will be determined entirely around the needs of the individual pupil and individual school. In the same way as every child’s autism is different, then an ARC package of support must be flexible, dynamic and bespoke as necessary to meet need. ARC staff will feedback regularly to schools and parents and the programme reviewed on a monthly basis or as required.
ARC Referral Form
Please complete this form and return to Jenny Muirhead ASC/SCID Lead:
or send to: Jenny Muirhead, Salt Way Centre, Pearl Road, Middleleaze, Swindon SN5 5TD.
Name of Pupil: …………………………………………………… School: ……………………………………………………..
DOB: ……………………………………….. Year Group: …………………..
Name and role of referrer: …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Email Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
School telephone number ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Name(s) of parents/carers: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Parents/carer’s address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Parents/carer’s tel./email address: ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Please briefly summarise concerns/describe current circumstances of pupil:
Programme/Facility application is for (please circle)
ARC Highworth/Second Sight Underground Liberty- Girls Group
Number of sessions per week requested (ARC Highworth/Second Sight only): ………
Preferred session (please circle) Morning Afternoon Don’t Mind
Preferred day/days of attendance if possible? (Please circle)
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
NB: While we will do our best to meet day and session type preferences, please be aware that in organising our groups our priority will be to consider the nature and specific needs of individual children to ensure group dynamics offer optimum opportunity of success for all participants.
Thank you, we will be in touch very soon.
Jenny Muirhead