Bill Quay Primary is an Additionally Resourced Mainstream School, (ARMs) which means that our school receives additional funding to enable us to provide inclusive support for children with Autism in both KS1 and KS2.

What is Autism?

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours. (Reference: National Autistic Society June 2014)

Often children who are on the autistic spectrum find it difficult to cope in a busy mainstream classroom. The ARMS for children with autism provision is designed to support children who find it difficult to make progress within a mainstream primary school.

The Aims of the ARMS for Children with Autism at Bill Quay Primary School

• To provide a safe and secure learning environment for children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).
• To develop children’s social and communication skills.
• To enable children to access smaller classes with specialist support.
• To deliver a curriculum that is differentiated depending upon the child’s needs.
• To include children within a mainstream setting when appropriate to that child’s needs.

Organisation

There are currently two Autism ARMS based at Bill Quay Primary school:

• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)/Key Stage One ARMS – catering for children aged 4-7 years old.
• Key Stage Two ARMS – catering for children aged 7-11 years old.

The teaching ratio in KS1 is 6 children to 3 adults and KS2, 8 children to 3 adults.

Staffing

We are a multi-professional team which consists of specialist teachers and teaching assistants. We liaise with the Autism Liaison Team as well as the Early Years SEN Coordinators, Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapist.