The Archbishop of Wales will open the first phase of an autism centre at a Cardiff High School on Tuesday September 22 at 5pm.
Currently in temporary buildings at Bishop of Llandaff High, the centre is custom designed to cater for the needs of children with complex autism and will accommodate two classes of up to six pupils.
The unit is being named the Marion Centre, in memory of a governor at Bishop of Llandaff, who died unexpectedly this year and was an enthusiastic supporter of the school.
Cardiff Council and the Welsh Assembly Government have agreed to provide funding for a permanent building with facilities for seven classes, which it is hoped will be completed in 2011.
Executive Member for Schools and Lifelong Learning Cllr Freda Salway said: “This centre is the first step in an exciting new future for pupils with autism in Cardiff. As well as providing extra help in areas of communication and social skills, this centre will give children with autism a new, dedicated unit, specialising in their education needs.”
Headteacher at Bishop of Llandaff High Christopher Hollowood said: “This is an exciting project which will enable the Marion Centre to become a centre of excellence for Cardiff and help us to find creative ways of integrating some of the pupils into aspects of the school. Our aim is to make Bishop of Llandaff High School “Autism friendly”.
