AN ABERYSTWYTH secondary school has become the first in Ceredigion to complete a programme designed to help children with autism.

Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig has completed the Learning with Autism Secondary School programme, which is accredited by ASDinfoWales, a national body which aims to raise awareness and provide resources and information relating to Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The Learning with Autism Programme is a whole school approach to improving awareness and understanding of the needs of autistic pupils.

In order to achieve the award, all teaching and learning support staff were required to complete the programme’s certification scheme, and all other support staff were required to complete the ‘ASD aware’ scheme.

In addition, the majority of pupils have signed the Autism Aware Charter and taken part in lessons intended to raise their awareness of ASD.

The school’s additional educational needs co-ordinator Angharad Evans said: “That we have achieved this award is testament to the hard work of the pupils, staff, governors and Sodexo staff who have ensured that we are able to improve the educational experience of pupils with ASD after completing this programme.’

Headteacher Gwenallt Llwyd Ifan said: “I am very proud that Penweddig is the first secondary school in Ceredigion to have completed this programme. It is clear that practice has changed in our school as a result of our progress."

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday