Page 14 - link magazine

14 swindonlink.com • July 2012
Plan for special support centre for 19 to 25 year olds

An education and training centre for young adults with special educational needs is greatly needed in the town and Uplands School in North
Swindon has come up with proposals to get one established.
The North Swindon Learning concerned about the pathways our At present some young people by the proposals from Uplands
Campus SEN school caters for 11 to young people take when they leave have to leave Swindon to receive School relating to post-19 SEN
19 year olds but headteacher Jackie us. Some may have good support as continued support. The aim is provision for young people. There
Smith is leading a move to create they progress to adulthood; others to have a facility in operation by is a growing need for such services,
more consistent, person centred, have a less positive time. September 2013. The project is and I am glad that the Government
provision for the young people “Given that we try to make their being driven by the newly created will be legislating in the year ahead
when they leave secondary educa- experience at Uplands as rich and Uplands Trust which works more to extend SEN provision to cover
tion. A meeting for parents on 1 June fulfilling as possible, we want to widely than the focus of the school. young people up to the age of 25.
discussed the range of activities a ensure that their educational and Mrs Smith said that with the “The development of this sort
new support centre could provide life skills needs continue to be met. timescale envisaged the trust wants of provision in Swindon would be
and how it would complement at- “And it’s not just young people to convert an existing building into of real benefit to a group of young
tendance at college or work place- from Uplands; we want to ensure an education and life skills centre. people whose needs are often not
ments, meet care needs and provide young people who have special South Swindon MP Robert Buck- met, or who have to go out of the
social opportunities. needs coming from mainstream land, who attended the meeting, area for support. I will do whatever
Mrs Smith said: “We’re very school will gain from this initiative.” said: “I am extremely impressed I can to help make this a reality.”

English, Mathematics and Science
Fully qualified teachers
Accelerated GCSE programme
11+ training and preparation
Free assessment and first lesson
Boost your child’s confidence

Jackie Smith and Robert Buckland with parents, back from left, Ros Warrington,
NEW
Del Fry, deputy head Andy Segal, assistant head Lorna Breslin. Front, Trish and
Childcare
Trevor Evans, Phil Standing
vouchers
accepted

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