A SCHOOL has been given funding to improve learning for students on the Autism Spectrum.

Honywoods School in Coggeshall is one of eight schools in Essex to receive £300,000 a year from the Local Education Authority.

It will be used to adapt the front of the school to create a facility for the 20 pupils diagnosed with Autism.

Simon Mason, headteacher, said: “We want to integrate these students fully into the main school and have the premises enhanced to meet their needs.

“There are issues around design as they are often sensitive to noise and certain colours, so we need to create a colour scheme that is more comforting.

“At the moment we have to work with what we have got and the beginning of the day is a difficult time for them because of the busyness, and we want to try and reduce that anxiety.”

The funding is guaranteed for three years, although it is expected to be continuous.

Mr Mason said: “The extra facility means we have 15 more students in the school, the benefits for them will be huge and it will benefit the rest of the school through the training programmes we can offer staff.”

The facility, which is planned to open in September, will be led by teacher Henry Cordy-McKenna.

Mr Cordy-McKenna said: “It’s really exciting to be able to transfer these skills on to other children.

“I have been learning the theory of Autism, how the children can get their voice across and why they are thinking the way they do.

“I am keeping my options open for what the facility is going to look like but there will be a lot of specialist equipment, even the lighting has to be taken into consideration.

“It’s very exciting seeing the children succeeding, that’s the best thing.”

A meeting has been arranged for the community to raise any issues, it will be held at the school from 3pm until 6.30pm on Thursday, February 11.