Williamwood Communication Service (WCS) provides placement and outreach support for young people who are registered to East Renfrewshire Secondary schools who have significant language and social communication needs, many of whom will have an autism spectrum condition. While the vast majority of young people with social communication differences will have their needs met in mainstream with the appropriate level of differentiation and adaptation, there are some young people who require more enhanced, targeted support in order to benefit from the experiences that mainstream high school can bring to their learning and development.
Young people who require full-time placement in WCS are, in almost all cases, identified in the primary years prior to secondary school enrolment (except in exceptional circumstances, such as a child moving into the authority). The majority of young people who attend have previously been placed with Carlibar Communication Service.
Support from WCS may be appropriate in cases where there is an extremely high level of distressed behaviour that can, in part, be accounted for by underlying social communication needs. Referrals can be made in circumstances where staff are concerned about how these present risks to the young person’s development, adaptability, mental wellbeing or inclusion. In most cases, referrals for support from WCS will be for outreach. A dedicated WCS Outreach teacher works peripatetically across the local authority to support young people in their own secondary school context, and to complement the work of schools in their approach to transition and individual or group based support.
Referrals are made to the local authority Education Resource Group (ERG) for this type of support by the school link Educational Psychologist where schools have evidenced a robust, evaluated wellbeing assessment and plan that has been in place for a reasonable period of time, and where the principles of staged intervention have been followed. There should be clear evidence that the school’s ASD advisor has been involved in ensuring that targets and interventions are in line with best practice. Carlibar Communication Service (CCS) and the Educational Psychology Service work in partnership to deliver training in this area within the ASD Advisors Forum that is open to all secondary schools, in order to support inclusive practice.
Discussions about the appropriateness of referral for WCS support usually begins within the context of the school Joint Support Team or a wellbeing plan review meeting. If a child or young person is being referred for this support the school will need to submit an evaluated wellbeing plan that details the child’s strengths and needs, their targets, as well as previous and current supports.
More information about the service can be found on the school website
