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A new centre to meet the needs of children with autism is set to open in Beckenham. Bromley Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, Councillor Ernest Noad, approved the move after extensive local consultation supported the proposal.
The new centre will be located on the site of the former Woodbrook Special School in Hayne Road and will be named the Riverside Beckenham Autistic Spectrum Disorder Centre. It marks the latest step in the Council’s programme to enhance provision for children with special educational needs (SEN) in the Borough. The new centre can provide 45 additional autism specific places and will be used by Riverside School, which currently has 160 places for children between the ages of 4 and 19.
Councillor Noad said: “I am delighted to approve this latest step in our continuing strategy of strengthening provision for children with SEN across Bromley. The scheme will enable most children’s needs to be met in Bromley so that they do not have to travel long distances to school each day. We are always looking for efficiencies, including reducing out of borough placements to reduce the cost to taxpayers.”
The Council’s decision to open a new centre will be published in the form of a Public Notice, after which there follows a six week period to enable the registration of any objections. If no objections are received, Bromley Council will enact the decision. If objections are received, the matter is referred to the Schools’ Adjudicator for a final decision.
The new centre will be located on the site of the former Woodbrook Special School in Hayne Road and will be named the Riverside Beckenham Autistic Spectrum Disorder Centre. It marks the latest step in the Council’s programme to enhance provision for children with special educational needs (SEN) in the Borough. The new centre can provide 45 additional autism specific places and will be used by Riverside School, which currently has 160 places for children between the ages of 4 and 19.
Councillor Noad said: “I am delighted to approve this latest step in our continuing strategy of strengthening provision for children with SEN across Bromley. The scheme will enable most children’s needs to be met in Bromley so that they do not have to travel long distances to school each day. We are always looking for efficiencies, including reducing out of borough placements to reduce the cost to taxpayers.”
The Council’s decision to open a new centre will be published in the form of a Public Notice, after which there follows a six week period to enable the registration of any objections. If no objections are received, Bromley Council will enact the decision. If objections are received, the matter is referred to the Schools’ Adjudicator for a final decision.
