Autism Archives - Page 2 of 3

Teachers back plans for specialist autism school in Harrogate

Schools across the Harrogate district have given their backing to plans for a specialist school for students with autism.

The proposal for the site of the former Woodfield Primary School will be discussed by North Yorkshire Council leaders today – and teachers are urging them to support it.

Samina O’Brien, special educational needs coordinator (Senco) and inclusion manager at Ripon Grammar School, said a specialist facility for students with autism across the Harrogate district was badly needed.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“We are getting so many more diagnoses of autism and a lot of these students can’t cope, to the point where they stop coming to school.

“When they come back, the school can’t change. The students can’t cope with the routine, the rigidity of the rules, and even when we make allowances they still struggle.”

Mrs O’Brien said schools did their best to help children with autism, but did not receive adequate funding to deliver the right support, such as one-to-one help or quieter rooms to work in.

She said Ripon Grammar School was not as badly affected by the situation as some schools because it was selective based on academic ability. However, she said many autistic students were highly academically able, but were unable to reach their full potential because they could not cope with the school environment.

When that was the case, specialist provision was often a significant distance away, she said, and students were not always able to make the journey.

There were private specialist schools students could attend, but cost was a barrier for most families. She added:

“There’s some stereotyping about the students in North Yorkshire, but the problems are the same wherever you are in the country. They don’t just change because you’ve crossed into an area that’s perceived as more wealthy or more rural.

“We’ve got a few students here who we know would be so much more suited to [a specialist school]. It would still be academic, but we would reduce the amount of stress the students went through.

“Our biggest concern is how unhappy some of those youngsters are. I think it would be so beneficial for all those students that are struggling.

“If this goes ahead, for some parents and more importantly the children, this will be what saves them and puts them back into mainstream where they should be and can thrive.”

The proposal for the former Woodfield site is for a school catering for students aged between 11 and 19. It would have capacity for around 80 children, who would not need to have a formal diagnosis of autism.

Rossett School is also in favour of the proposal. Newly-appointed headteacher Tim Milburn said:

“It is so pleasing to see significant investment being proposed for specialist provision in the area. This is such welcome news for children and families who have been seeking this support for a number of years.

“I will be really interested to hear how the investment will support children and families for whom mainstream education is the most appropriate setting.”

Liz Zoccolan, Senco and assistant headteacher at Harrogate Grammar School, added:

“Any increase in provision which will meet the needs of the growing number of students with education, health and care plans is to be welcomed in the area. This would further enable potentially vulnerable young people and their families timely access to specialist support if that is their choice.

“We would be keen to work alongside and collaborate with the proposed provision so that as many students as possible may benefit.”

If the plans are approved by NYC’s executive member for children and young people’s services and corporate directors today, a consultation could be launched in two weeks’ time, running until late July.

New school for autistic children planned in Harrogate

North Yorkshire Council has revealed plans to open a school for autistic children on the site of the former Woodfield Community Primary School.

The school in Bilton closed at the end of last year and has been empty since.

A council report prepared for a meeting next week recommends consulting on plans to re-open the school in September next year.

The school would cater for up to 80 students with autism aged 11 to 19. A total of £3.5 million would be spent on upgrading the site.

The report says there is “no short to medium-term need to re-establish additional mainstream places in Woodfield” but the number of young people with identified SEND and an EHCP has increased by over 110% in North Yorkshire since 2016. It adds:

“The site at Woodfield offers the opportunity to create this provision and give this group of children access to suitable peer groups and academic challenge in order to reach their aspirations.

“This would provide children and families with a more local offer of provision than is currently unavailable without significant travel.

“The planning assumption is that the new provision would ultimately operate with a capacity of around 80 pupils and would serve an age range of 11 to 19.”

The report adds there will be “no changes” to the community library and children’s centre on the same site.

Councillors will vote next week on whether to accept the recommendation and begin consulting on the plans.

Critical report finds ‘significant shortfalls’ at Harrogate care home

A care home in Harrogate has been found to have “widespread and significant shortfalls in leadership” in a highly critical inspection report.

Avon Lodge on Harlow Moor Drive was rated ‘requires improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission, while its leadership was found to be ‘inadequate’ in a report published this week.

In the report, which followed an unannounced two-day inspection in February, inspectors downgraded Avon Lodge from its previous ‘good’ rating and said:

“The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the quality of care being provided to people. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks… We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements…

“The provider acknowledged the shortfalls found during this inspection. They took some action following the first day of inspection to begin to address some of the shortfalls found regarding the environment and fire safety.

“The overall rating for the service has changed from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’ based on the findings of this inspection.”

The inspection assessed three key areas, asking if the service was safe, effective, and well-led. The latter was rated ‘inadequate;, while the other two were ‘good’.

The areas of ‘caring’ and ‘responsive’ were not assessed during the inspection and are still rated ‘good’, having last been assessed in 2019.

In their latest visit, inspectors found there were multiple breaches of regulations relating to administering medicine, reporting concerns about safeguarding, and carrying out risk assessments. They concluded:

“Some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed.”

Personal care needs

Avon Lodge cares for adults with personal care needs, including some with mental health issues, learning disabilities and autism. It has space for up to 12 people and 11 were resident when the inspection took place.

At that time, the home was being run by a temporary manager, after its registered manager had left the post. A permanent replacement was being recruited, the report said.

Looking at the leadership of the care home, the inspectors said:

“There were widespread and significant shortfalls in service leadership. Leaders and the culture they created did not assure the delivery of high-quality care.”

They added:

“There had been no recent engagement with people or their relatives to gather their views on the service. All the relatives we spoke with told us they had not received a questionnaire or been asked for their views. One relative told us, ‘Not for a long while, we got invited to a meeting once that was cancelled.’

“Professional visits to the home or people’s visit to healthcare professionals were not recorded effectively therefore there was no oversight of this contact.”

Inspectors also looked at the way the Mental Capacity Act was used. It is designed to ensure people are allowed to make their own decisions where possible, and when they are not able to do so that the decisions made are in their best interests.

They found there was inadequate record-keeping relating to its use and decisions made for people who were unable to consent.

Inspectors also found the environment of the care home was not always supportive of its residents.

They reported it was often loud and led to them being woken up, while some communal areas were out of use, and some soft furnishings to make it more homely, such as curtains, were missing.

There was poor record-keeping relating to residents’ allergies and family members said the meals provided at the home were not varied enough.

Inspectors made several recommendations in the report of ways in which Avon Lodge should be improved. They also said:

“The provider agreed with the shortfalls found during inspection and took some immediate action.

“The provider took on board the inspection feedback and discussed plans of how they would communicate with people and relatives about the inspection findings and action they were going to take as a result.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Avon Lodge and its owner, Care Network Solutions Ltd, to ask for a response to the report. However, we had not received a reply by the time of publication.

Have your say on North Yorkshire’s autism strategy

Residents across the Harrogate district are being invited to help shape a new strategy to improve the lives of people living with autism.

The aim is to provide better support for autistic people, as well as improving attitudes towards the condition across the community.

The new North Yorkshire Council is working with the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to host a series of events for people with autism, or those who support them, to share their ideas and experiences.

People will also be able to take part in a survey, which will run until the end of April, as an alternative way to express their views. Copies will also be available in North Yorkshire libraries.

Cllr Michael Harrison, executive member for health and adult services, said:

“The aim is to enable autistic people to live fulfilling lives by making sure the right support is available at the right moments.

“Autistic people’s ideas and experiences will be at the heart of the new strategy.

“That is why we are so keen that people attend the engagement sessions, and help us to ensure the new strategy is as thorough and as helpful as it can possibly be.”

The new, all-age strategy will be implemented across the health and local authority sector, alongside voluntary, community and social organisations.

Inclusion North, a not-for-profit organisation that works with the public sector, has also been taken on to help the campaign.

Once adopted, the strategy is expected to remain in place until 2026. It will cover several key areas of improvement, including better access to education, transition into adulthood and employment aid.

Guidelines will be provided to help support families and carers.

The next Harrogate engagement event will take place at The Cuttings in Station View, Starbeck, on Thursday, April 27, from 5.30-8pm. Full details are available on the North Yorkshire Partnerships website.

Nidderdale art workshop to raise money for autism awareness on Saturday

A Nidderdale artist who uses art for therapy is donating fees from a workshop this weekend to the National Autistic Society.

James Owen Thomas, who has autism, is artist in residence at Fishpond Wood in Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge. His JOT Gallery was highly commended at this month’s Stray Ferret Business Awards.

He holds monthly workshops, the next one of which on Saturday will donate all £25 fees of those taking part to the society as part of World Autism Acceptance Week, which begins on March 27.

James uses recycled materials to highlight nature and the importance of protecting the environment.

James Owen Thomas

He works with unwanted, discarded materials and turns them into something unique. He also uses art to make a difference to mental wellbeing, reducing stress and anxiety.

James said:

“I am on the autistic spectrum myself and have always found art therapeutic.

“There will be a full spectrum of colourful materials at the workshop and we will be creating textured photo collages of trees and nature for you to take home.”

Harrogate gaming cafe launches fundraiser for autism calm space

A gaming café in Harrogate is raising money to create a calm space in its store designed specially for autistic customers.

Geek Retreat has teamed up with autism support specialist KoKoPie Families to hit its £250 fundraising target and is already a third of the way there.

Supporters can make a donation to guess the number of sweets in a large jar in-store or enter a prize draw to win a hamper.

The initiative will culminate on Saturday, February 25, when the Geek Retreat will hold its main fundraising event at its Oxford Street premises, with a bake sale, portrait-drawing and game-play.

Geek Retreat staff member Maddy said:

“It’s really important to me and the team at Geek Retreat that everyone has a space where they feel safe and wanted. I already see this happening at Geek Retreat, and can’t wait to see how the fundraiser makes that goal include as many people as possible.”

The funds will be used to supply sensory equipment, a film-screening licence and equipment, bean-bags, stim-kits, and inclusive books to add to the café’s diversity library.

Nurse consultant Laura Hellfeld, who runs KoKoPie Families, said:

“Partnering with Geek Retreat was a quick decision as we share a vision of creating inclusive and accepting spaces. The resources bought through this fundraiser will be incredibly valuable for ensuring even more community members know that they are valued and welcomed into a café that has been adjusted to fit their needs.”

Geek Retreat is a national franchise operation, with about 50 stores across Britain.

To donate to Geek Retreat’s inclusive calm space fundraiser online, go to its JustGiving page.

Harrogate mum launches group for neurodiverse children and their parents

A Harrogate mum who set up a play and support group for neurodiverse children and their parents says the response has been “incredible”.

Emily Yeates, whose three-year-old daughter Elsie is non-verbal and still awaiting a formal autism diagnosis, launched Neurodiverse Stay & Play to provide parents with a supportive environment and a chance to swap experiences.

Emily said:

“Being the parent of a non-neurotypical child can be quite isolating. Elsie can go from being calm one moment to having a meltdown the next. All people see is a ‘naughty child’, but actually, Elsie just doesn’t understand.

“Birthday parties, meals out, and even soft-play areas have all become difficult – they’re too loud, there are too many people, or too many restrictions – so we don’t tend to take her to them any more.

“It got to the point where I was isolating myself so much that I was struggling, and I wanted to find other parents in the same position.”

The group held its first session on Saturday, and more are planned in the coming weeks. The two-hour-long events take place at Oatlands Community Centre and will initially be free; from April it will cost £4 a session, but remain free for members of local community network myLifePool.

Parents and children enjoying food and drink at the first Neuropdiverse Stay & Play session in Oatlands Community Centre in Harrogate.

Parents and children at the first Neurodiverse Stay & Play session enjoyed food and drink sponsored by The Harrogate Dog Walking and Pet Company.

Emily said:

“Our first session was fully booked, and the feedback has been incredible. The Harrogate Dog Walking & Pet Company very generously sponsored the food and drink, and we’ve been contacted by speech and language therapists and even by North Yorkshire County Council about grants. It just goes to show how much this is needed in Harrogate.

“We offer an environment where there’s no judgement – if your child kicks off, we get it! – and where parents can just chat and offer each other moral support and understanding.”

The next sessions run by Neurodiverse Stay & Play will take place at Oatlands Community Centre on:

Tuesday, February 10 – 10-12 noon
Saturday, February 25 – 2-4pm
Thursday, March 9 – 10-12 noon
Sunday, March 19 – 10-12 noon

To book in for a session, go to the Events page at myLifePool.

Harrogate district autism charity celebrates 10th anniversary

A Harrogate district autism charity is celebrating its 10^th anniversary.

Autism Angels hosts sessions for autistic children and their families at Throstle Nest Farm near Summerbridge.

The charity offers horse-riding therapy sessions along with kids’ clubs and day camps.

Sarah Kekoa, who founded the charity in 2012, said she believed that the charity had led to “breakthroughs” with children’s experiences.

Ms Kekoa added that they took a positive approach which was not always present in everyday life:

“A lot of people project on to them that they can’t do [things] and we don’t believe that. We believe they can do. It’s just how.”

The charity aims to teach life skills such as teamwork, kindness and feeling able to speak up.

It also uses the occasional unpredictability of the horses to help children address their fears and anxieties.

The organisation also works as a space for the parents to come together to talk about their experiences and share their advice.

For Ms Kekoa, the last decade has brought “breakthroughs” in terms of helping children.

However, she stressed, the end outcome was not the same for every child. She said:

“We had children coming last week who weren’t even in school and are now going back to school now in September… The aim isn’t always to get them back into school, but the aim is to always to keep their mental health and wellbeing a priority.”

To celebrate the anniversary, Autism Angels is hosting a party for those involved in the charity this weekend.

In April, some of the families undertook a 150-mile journey coast-to-coast journey and raised more than £10,000.

Sarah Kekoa, founder of the Autism Angels charity

Sarah Kekoa founded the Autism Angels charity in 2012 (photo: Autism Angels)

Time with “the Horse Whisperer”

Ms Kekoa was inspired to start the riding therapy after spending time with American horse trainer Monty Roberts, who is known as “the Horse Whisperer” in the United States.

She noticed similarities between the non-verbal communication methods of the horses and autistic children. She said:

“It’s the way that they move and behave which tells their story.”

Chocolate project seeks new business links to build on students’ growth

Chocolate may be associated with Easter for many people, but for one Harrogate social enterprise it’s a year-round obsession.

Harrogate Chocolate Factory has been making its own chocolate “from bean to bar” for the last three years.

With new equipment being brought in, it will significantly increase its manufacturing capacity over the coming weeks. More bars will soon be available from its website and from local stockists including Crimple and Artizan.

CEO Hadyn Moorby-Davies said the way the project has developed has been rewarding:

“You have got to have some optimism to start projects like this, but it’s really satisfying seeing it now.”

After a delay thanks to covid, last summer Harrogate Chocolate Factory Cafe opened next to the Odeon cinema on East Parade. The last year has proven to be a successful one and now Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre (HS4LC), the organisation behind the project, is looking to build on its growth by engaging with the business community.

The chocolate factory and café are staffed by people with learning difficulties. They were set up to provide a stepping stone to employment, providing real-world experience in a familiar and supported environment.

From there, students go on to placements with local companies, ranging from small businesses to large corporations. Among the list of places to have taken students so far are Labcorp, Rudding Park, the Army Foundation College and Ilk Homes at Flaxby.

Students and staff at Harrogate Chocolate Factory Cafe

Angie Russell, who runs several local businesses including Skye Blue Cleaners and Harrogate changeovers, has also taken on two students from HS4L. She said:

“We advertised for somebody to work in the laundry. Paul [from HS4L] said he had someone who might be interested.

“My initial reaction was ‘no, we can’t’. My perception was there would be to many problems with stairs and so on. He said, ‘can we come and have a chat?’.”

With some of her fears allayed, Angie took on a student for a couple of hours a week doing administrative tasks such as sending out letters. Now, she is working in the laundry, and Angie has taken on another student to join her housekeeping team.

The result has been a complete turnaround in Angie’s attitude to the programme, so much so that she’s now working with HS4LC to increase its engagement with the business community and provide more opportunities for students – and for businesses themselves.

“Having someone who comes in who doesn’t care if you have a Gucci handbag or who said what about who – it changes the atmosphere.

“The employers we work with have a genuine interest in the students. People get to realise there are far more benefits to employing that diverse workforce: it can just brighten up a room.”

The training the students are receiving at the Harrogate Chocolate Factory and Café could be perfect for Harrogate hospitality businesses, which have reported significant problems recruiting since the covid pandemic began.

While many business owners are nervous about the practicalities of taking on an employee with learning difficulties, often, they are more risk-averse than is necessary.

Students are given a job coach who comes to work with them to begin with. That direct support remains in place for as long as is needed, whether it is a few months or throughout their employment.

However, in many cases, once they get to know the role, the students are confident to be left alone with their coach checking on them and their employer from time to time.

The chocolate factory itself has proven that students can adapt to, or even enjoy, some of the most mundane tasks.

Hadyn added:

“It’s really that routine with steps that is great for people with autism. We’ve got quite a few students who really love that routine.

“Often, the boring jobs that nobody wants to do, they like it because they can focus on it. That was quite satisfying to realise that initial idea worked.”

Now, as part of their plans for expansion, staff at HS4LC have launched Engage 22. The project is designed to put the interests and aspirations of students at the heart of the services on offer, from the training they receive to the social activities they can attend.

The charity’s home on North Park Road has been offering classes for many years, but the calendar of events is still expanding. Gym memberships, swimming sessions and cinema trips are all adding to the variety of art, craft, music, dance and drama lessons.

Angie said:

“They really aspire to working. They can see their friends and peers doing similar stuff and living independently.”

Hadyn added:

“Our purpose is to overcome inequality and help people do what they want to with their lives.”

Harrogate autism advocate using YouTube to break down barriers

Harrogate-based autism advocate Thomas Henley wants to use his profile as a popular podcaster and YouTuber to help other people that might be struggling with autism.

Mr Henley was diagnosed as autistic aged 10 and said his years at Rossett High School were “quite a bad experience” as he struggled with the condition and poor mental health.

Despite his difficult teenage years, he is a former Commonwealth Championship gold medalist in Taekwondo. He’s also a model for Born Anxious, a clothing line set up to support children with autism.

Mr Henley invites guests onto his YouTube channel Asperger’s Growth and his podcast Thoughty Auti Podcast to discuss topics related to autism, including dating, mental health, university and the workplace.

He said:

“The first thing I learned was the extent to which autistic people struggle in the school system. Everyone I talk to says secondary school tends to be a traumatic environment. It can cause a lot of long-term mental health conditions.”

Today is World Autism Awareness Day, which is backed by the United Nations and aims to raise awareness about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the world.

Mr Henley said his podcast and YouTube channel have helped him have a greater appreciation for how different people feel about autism. He said some may see it as a medical condition or disability, whereas others say it has lots of benefits.

He said:

“It’s a very individual thing but we think, see, perceive feel and communicate differently. It’s been shown that’s really beneficial for some work places.

“We are very emotionally intune, it’s a very misunderstood part of autism. The cognitive ability to notice and categorise, that’s the bit with we struggle with.

“What we don’t struggle with is when we know someone is struggling or needing support, that tends to be very, very strong.

“Over the course of four or five years I worked a lot on myself. But my podcast is less about sharing my experiences and more about trying to help other autistic people.”

Mr Henley encouraged any autistic teenagers in Harrogate who might be struggling to make the most of the wealth of resources that are available online, which can help them feel like they are not alone.

“One of the best things you can do is learn more about autism from a young age.

“Follow a lot of people on Instagram and YouTube and you will learn about yourself. There are lots of resources online. For example, if you’re young, female and autistic, there is Siena Castellon’s The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide.

“It’s good to hear autistic people talking about what it’s like to being autistic.”

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Time with “the Horse Whisperer”

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