The team behind one of Hull’s first purpose-built bases for children with autism is raising awareness of the condition among pupils and its workforce.
The new £8.2 million Broadacre Primary School in Wawne Road is being built by Sewell Construction to help meet the demand for more pupil places.
The school will include a 10-place base for young children with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), a developmental disorder which affects communication and behaviour.
The school and Sewell are keen to ensure everyone at Broadacre and on the new build site is aware of autism and every class has completed a mini project on the condition to learn more as World Autism Awareness Week gets underway from 29 March to 4 April.
They have also teamed up with aspiring local illustrator and children’s author Luke Garner, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism.
Luke, 22, has been commissioned to brighten up the hoardings around the project and inspired Broadacre pupils to do the same with their own designs.
Lisa Staines, Executive Headteacher at Broadacre Primary School, said: “The children who will attend the ASC base will have a blended learning approach, working in both the base and the mainstream school. It is really important that they are part of our school community and that all of us have a good understanding of autism.
“Getting Luke and the children involved in brightening the hoardings and Sewell raising awareness of autism among its team is wonderful.
“The children had their first glimpse of their new school through the window in the hoardings last week and everyone is so excited to see it taking shape.”
Luke, who is supported by the Goodwin Development Trust, said sharing his designs on a project of this scale is a great opportunity for him.
He said: “I have Asperger’s Syndrome and I’m proud. I want to show people what I can do and it’s nice that others believe in me too. It’s an honour to be involved and be an ambassador for autism awareness.”
The new school will increase capacity by 210 pupil places, creating a 630-place school, including a 52-place nursery, enhanced external spaces and teaching areas, and a fenced multi-use games area, following the rise and expansion of local housing.
Year six pupil Ebony Caulfield Fryatt, 11, said: “People with autism have different sensory needs and we’ve written poems about autism. It’s really good that our new school will be able to fulfil everyone’s needs. We can see it being built from our playground.”
Broadacre Primary School is part of the Humber Education Trust and the new building will be open to staff and pupils in February 2022.
For more information about World Autism Awareness Week, visit: World Autism Awareness Week
