School set for new interaction and autism space

Work to repurpose the pavilion building is expected to finish in August

A specialist base to help students with special educational needs and disability (SEND) is set to open at a school in Guernsey, the States has said.

Officials said a new communication, interaction and autism space (CIAS) base will be in the pavilion building at Les Beaucamps High School.

The States said the base would provide specialist support to secondary-school age pupils whose primary area of additional need was communication and interaction.

Work to repurpose the building is expected to start on 24 June and finish in August, it said.

'Massive step forward'

Communication, interaction and autism head of service Collette Watts said all high schools will have a CIAS base from September.

She said the CIAS service offers outreach support to schools in the Bailiwick of Guernsey as well as specialist base places for learners with a determination of SEND.

"This is a massive step forwards to ensure that learners with a CIAS base placement can access high quality inclusive practice within mainstream education, while being able to access the specialist support they may require," Ms Watts said.

Officials said the pavilion was previously used as offices for the education office and youth commission.

It said the work, set to be carried out by contractor R&D de Jersey, would repurpose it to be appropriate as a CIAS learning space.