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Re: Scrutiny Review of the Proposed Government Plan 2023-2026
Thank you for agreeing additional time for us to respond to your request for comments.
Autism Jersey are greatly encouraged by the commitment of investment in to the services run by CYPES. In particular in regard to investment in to the CAMHS service, where there is a significant improvement on the waiting list for diagnosis of autism.
Regarding the points you have referenced:
- Education Reform – Inclusion Review – p.50 of R.146/2022
- It is noted that investment will facilitate a new role in Specialist Education Needs Coordinator, and this is very welcome
- You refer to the repurposing of ARCs to provide a more general level of support embracing a wider range of needs'. Autism Jersey wish to raise their concerns regarding the detail of what this actually means, and for these changes not to dilute the essential support provided to autistic children seeking to remain in mainstream education, whose communication and sensory needs can often be prohibitive.
- The development of new ARCs is welcome
- Demographics and Needs Assessments – p. 51 of R.146/2022
- Investment in data to map out demographics of the variety of needs of children in Jersey is welcome. This is essential to be able to forward plan the essential support required.
- New school and Educational Developments – p.57 of P.97/2022
- Investment in to Mont a L'abbe School, a new Digital Centre of Excellence, development of primary schools in St Helier, a replacement of Victoria College Preparatory School and sports facilities at Le Rocquier are all welcome. It is essential, however, that all of these developments are fully inclusive, enabling full participation for all. This must reflect the needs of autistic children.
- Again, it is recognised that investment in to a therapeutic care home for children, refurbish existing residential homes, provide new premises for music development, deliver improvements to existing schools, and support delivery of school sports pitches and play spaces and enable an expansion of Youth Service facilities is essential and supported. However, it is proposed by Autism Jersey for the inclusion of developing an appropriate facility from which to deliver essential short break services to small groups of children, where families require essential after school support due to the complexity of need of their children. The proposal for supporting small groups of children is in response to the difficulty of sustaining delivery of the current model of support adding difficulty of appropriate recruitment of the numbers of staff with the relevant experience, aptitude and qualification .
- Upgrade to CYPES Estate – p.57/58 of P.97/2022.
a. No further comment
Kind regards,
Chris Dunne
Chief Executive Officer
Autism Jersey, Century Buildings, Patriotic Place, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 3AF 01534 871888
c.dunne@autismjersey.org www.autismjersey.org facebook.com/autismjersey/ twitter.com/AutismJersey linkedin.com/company/autism-jersey/