The approach to providing all school staff with a high level of training in relation to autism in line with the commitment within the all-age autism strategy is approved. The Council engages the accredited regional hub of the Autism Education Trust (AET) to deliver high quality professional development to all of Herefordshire’s schools over a three year period.

The cost of the programme will be £75,000 over the three-year period. A sum of £70,000 has been set aside in the Council’s budget to support the implementation and promotion of the Herefordshire all-age autism strategy. The remaining amount of £5,000 will be provided from the remaining balances of SEN Reform Grant, originally provided by the Department for Education for stimulating developments in relation to SEND and hence this would fit with the conditions of grant.