At Merrylands Primary School we have an enhanced provision (ASC) for 8 pupils.  The ASC supports autistic pupils with an Educational Health Care Plan (where the primary need is Autism) in accessing mainstream school.

What is the Autism Support Centre (ASC)?

Some mainstream schools across Essex have extra support available for pupils with special needs and disabilities.  These are called ‘Enhanced Provisions’.  These are not the same as special schools: Enhanced Provisions provide a safe space for pupils to overcome their barriers to learning within a mainstream school.  The dedicated ASC teams support pupils to build their attendance in mainstream lessons over time. When in the ASC, pupils can access their work and complete timetabled interventions that meet their specific needs.

Across Essex, there are four primary Autism Support Centres and four secondary Autism Support Centres.

To have a placement in one of the Autism Support Centres, including here at Merrylands Primary School, a child must have:

• a diagnosis of autism
• a finalised Education Health and Care Plan for children or young people with autism as the primary need
• The cognitive ability to access the mainstream academic curriculum with appropriate support from the autism support centre to overcome their barriers to learning.

Places within the ASCs are requested via the annual review process.  All requests are carefully considered by the Essex Autism Panel.

The purpose of the ASC is to ensure that the pupils attending the centre make progress as detailed within their Education Health and Care Plan.  The ASC provides enhanced support using evidence-based strategies, to enable the pupil to spend increasing amounts of time accessing the classroom and engaging with their peers in a mainstream setting.

Please note that pupils who are currently educated within Merrylands Primary School mainstream setting must follow the same process, to ensure equity for all students in the county.

What does a day in the ASC look like for our pupils?

ASC pupils are greeted every morning by the ASC team. Pupils complete structured activities such as sensory circuits, mindfulness colouring activities and Lego to help them settle into school each day.

Throughout the day, pupils are encouraged to complete their individualised timetables. These visual timetables are created with the pupil’s input and are tailored to meet the pupil’s particular interests and provisions set out in their EHCP/One Plan. Most pupils will attend core subjects, or complete the work set in the ASC. All pupils have the option to return to the ASC should they become dysregulated- the ASC is a supervised safe space where they can self-regulate with access to the right resources. To help avoid dysregulation, pupil have timetabled regulation time built into their timetable. ASC pupils can attend break and lunch time in the ASC. Some pupils prefer to be accompanied to the canteen to collect their food. Some use mainstream areas to socialise with their peers. During social time, pupils are encouraged to engage in Social and Communication Play. Activity stations enable pupils - who may at times struggle to interact with peers - to work in pairs or small groups to complete activities such as card games, jigsaw puzzles and board games.

Example Timetable:

	Period 1	Period 2	Period 3	Afternoon session
Mon	Project Work, Literacy focus	Attention Autism	Maths based focus- creative curriculum	Mindful Mondays Meditation, yoga, calming colouring and focus around being in the moment, emotion regulation
Tues	Project Work, Literacy focus	Attention Autism	Maths based focus- creative curriculum	Tuneful Tuesdays Music communication, movement sessions
Wed	Project Work, Literacy focus	Attention Autism	Maths based focus- creative curriculum	Wacky Wednesdays Gross motor skill focus and sensory integration. Outdoor play opportunities
Thursday	Project Work, Literacy focus	Attention Autism	Maths based focus- creative curriculum	Thoughtful Thursdays Zones of Regulation ______ Creative sessions making things for others. Working on giving and self expression
Friday	Project Work, Literacy focus	Attention Autism	Maths based focus- creative curriculum	Friendly Fridays Zones of regulation _____ Kindness focus- Working with peers, engaging in games and activities sharing the company of others