Autism award first for Scots school

Published on Friday 21 May 2010 23:15

A PRIMARY school has become the first mainstream school in Scotland to be given accreditation from the National Autistic Society.

Banff Primary School in Aberdeenshire received the award from the charity yesterday after staff demonstrated specialised knowledge and understanding of the condition.

The charity felt the expertise shown by staff had a powerful influence on the school which has individual assessment and support plans for every pupil in its charge.

Stephen Pyott from the National Autistic Society (NAS) officially presented the school with its accreditation yesterday. It is a goal which the school has been working towards since 2005.

Jenny Stone, headteacher at Banff Primary, said: "The benefits for the school, having worked through this process are many. There has been a strong element of professional development (on job training] that has impacted on every member of staff in school."

She also said the way they teach and care for the pupils had improved through the process of accreditation which she described as "rigorous".

She added: "This has been a powerful learning experience for all of us in school, we are conscious that our professionalism has been enhanced and we are better equipped to meet the needs of our pupils."

The school was reviewed by a team of autism experts involved with the national charity, who presented their findings to an independent panel.

Banff is now on the accreditation register but in order to retain the status the school must undergo further reviews every three years to demonstrate that accreditation standards are still being met.

Councillor Richard Stroud, chairman of the education, learning and leisure committee at Aberdeenshire council described it as a "wonderful accomplishment" for the school, the staff and the pupils.

He added: "It is vital that every pupil, no matter what their circumstances are, gets the best possible support and education, and Banff Primary is now in an excellent position to achieve this."

More than half a million people in the UK, including 50,000 in Scotland, are on the autism spectrum.

It is a lifelong development condition affecting the way a person communicates with and relates to people around them. The exact causes are unknown, but it is thought genetics may be partly responsible.

Liberal Democrat MSP for Central Scotland Hugh O'Donnell, launched a Members' Bill in the Scottish Parliament in January to introduce a national strategy for autism services in Scotland.

He said: "It is really encouraging to hear that children with autism at the primary school will have support in place from their teachers to be kept in the mainstream school system where possible.

"I would encourage more schools to follow the example of Banff Primary school so that there can be an end to the postcode lottery which still exists in Scotland in terms of the provision of autism services."