§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in 1971 in the provision of facilities for autistic children, specifying individual schemes.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeA circular on the education of autistic children was issued by the Department in June. It requested information from authorities on numbers of autistic children and the provision made for them: returns have recently been completed and the information is being analysed.
Accommodation at the I.L.E.A.'s Harborough School was increased by six to 24. Two schools for autistic children are included in the Department's design list for 1971–72 and are likely to be started this year. A further four projects are under consideration for the 1972–73 design list. Altogether these six projects would 82W provide 108 places. Some authorities prefer to provide for autistic children in special units attached to other special schools: progress with these need not be reported to the Department.
Four new independent schools for autistic children were opened in 1971: they are:
Hope Lodge School, Southampton, 8 day and 8 weekly boarding pupils.Portfield School, Christchurch, Hants., 20 day pupils.The Old Rectory, Culworthy, Devon, 6 weekly boarding pupils.Wargrave House School, Newton-le-Willows, Lancs., 15 boarding pupils.