ARC Referral- 2014-2015
Swindon Autism Support Service
Now taking referrals for pupils aged 4-12 affected by autism or related difficulty to access
sessions of therapeutic social skills activity at our new facility in Highworth:
Autism Resource Centre
ARC
What is ARC?
This Swindon ASC/SCID base offers an enhanced education programme of social communication and
therapeutic learning activity led by an ASC teacher and experienced ASC support staff for pupils
between the ages of 4 and 12. These will be pupils with a core difficulty around social
communication and interaction who may or may not have a diagnosis of autism. They may be on a
reduced timetable, undergoing gradual integration/re- integration to school or perhaps at risk of
exclusion where school staff and parents are looking to be proactive in managing difficult times. Our
aim is to support schools to target some of their SEN focussed delegated funding and/or pupil
premium where appropriate, to meet pupil need and positively work towards maintaining a
successful school placement.
How does it work?
Schools are invited to commission us to provide between 1 and 5 sessions a week for ASC/SCID
affected pupils who would access the sessions on a short/medium or longer term basis as needed.
The focus would always be on addressing core ASC related issues through intensive intervention and
explicit teaching of the social curriculum, management of anxiety and developing sensory tolerances
to support successful inclusion into the main school environment. In short this would be a 'readiness
for school' programme and will be bespoke around individual pupil need.
An ARC ‘session’ is offered as a complete package of pupil collection by ASC Outreach staff,
(although some parents may choose to transport children themselves) attendance and activity at the
ARC and then return to school/home. Morning sessions are collection between 8.30am and 9.15am
depending on location of school/child’s home within Swindon and return between 11.45am and
ARC Referral- 2014-2015
12.15pm. Afternoon sessions are collection between 12.15pm and 12.45pm with return to
school/home by 3.15-3.45pm.
What will it cost?
While ARC is allied to Swindon Autism Outreach and Support Services, it offers an enhanced and
additional level of support and intervention for pupils over and above what is covered by our core
ASC Advisory and ASC Outreach Service funding. ARC does not receive any funding from the local
authority and has to be self supporting.
ARC charges are tiered dependent on child’s level of need. The assessment process prior to
accepting a referral will include a comprehensive risk assessment the outcome of which will assist us
in determining safe staffing levels and therefore the charge band that the child will be allocated.
These charges will enable us to employ specialist staff, operate and run therapies and activities and
manage transportation. Schools will be invoiced termly (six charging periods through the school
year) from Ruskin Junior School which hosts the Swindon Autism Advisory and Outreach Service.
The three bands of charges will be:



Band a) £45 per session – approximately 85% of accepted referrals fall into this category
Band b) £60 per session- approximately 10% of accepted referrals fall into this category
Band c) £75 per session- approximately 5% of accepted referrals fall into this category
These charges will be fixed until April 2016.
How do we refer a child to ARC?
We expect the majority of referrals to be made directly from schools and academies, as outcomes of
actions from TAC /SOS/ CHiN processes, but we acknowledge that enquiry may also come from
SENAT and other agencies. We are happy to discuss and advise around the benefit or otherwise of a
placement at ARC with any professional.
In the first instance, if a referral to ARC is being considered, this should be discussed with the
parents/carers of the affected pupil and contact made with any of the Senior Members of the ASC
Advisory and Outreach team (details below) to explore suitability of this intervention.
ARC Referral- 2014-2015

Jenny Muirhead ASC Advisory Lead- 07772 441559

Penny Seymour ASC Advisory Teacher- 07772 439912

Bill Rigg Advisory Teacher/ARC Manager 07580 877466

Anne Walecki ASC Outreach/ARC Manager- 07772 439423

Lynn Woods ASC Outreach- 07805 608374
A description of the ARC facility is given in the parent/carer letter and there is a slip for parents to
return to school and you to pass onto us which gives parental permission for their child to attend
ARC and participate in ARC activities.
Once these initial enquiries and discussions have been made, schools are invited to provide some
key information on the ARC Referral Form below and forward this along with the parental
permission slip to JMuirhead@swindon.gov.uk or to Jenny Muirhead, Salt Way Centre, Pearl Road,
Middleleaze, Swindon SN5 5TD.
How do we review the placement? How long can the pupil attend ARC?
Placements can last for one term (6 weeks) or several terms. In practice, to properly address
presenting need the length of the programme of attendance at ARC will be determined entirely
around the needs of the individual pupil and individual school. In the same way as every child’s
autism is different, then an ARC package of support must be flexible, dynamic and bespoke as
necessary to meet need. ARC staff will feedback regularly to schools and parents and the
programme reviewed on a monthly basis or as required.
(ARC Referral form below)
ARC Referral- 2014-2015
ARC Referral Form
Please complete this form and return to Jenny Muirhead ASC/SCID Lead:
JMuirhead@swindon.gov.uk or send to: Jenny Muirhead, Salt Way Centre, Pearl Road, Middleleaze, Swindon SN5 5TD.
School:
Name and role of referrer:
School telephone number/email address for contact_______________________________________
Name of Pupil:
DOB:
Year Group:
Name(s) of parents/carers:
Parents/carer’s address:
Parents/carer’s telephone numbers/email address:
Please briefly summarise concerns/describe current circumstances of pupil:
Number of sessions per week requested:
Preferred session (please circle) Morning
Preferred day/days of attendance if possible? (Please circle) Monday Tuesday
Afternoon
Wednesday
Thursday
Dont Mind
Friday
(NB: While we will do our best to meet day and session type preferences, please be aware that in organising our groups our priority will
be to consider the nature and specific needs of individual children to ensure group dynamics offer optimum opportunity of success for all
participants.)
Thank you, we will be in touch very soon.
Jenny Muirhead