A NEW centre providing specialist educational support is being provided at Rodborough Technology College, in Milford, as part of a pioneering partnership by Surrey County Council and the National Autistic Society.

The NAS Cullum Centre was formally opened by South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt, National Autistic Society (NAS) chief executive Mark Lever and Peter Cullum, founder of the Cullum Family Trust, last Friday.

The new centre is the second of four purpose-built specialist centres the NAS and the county council are opening within mainstream secondary schools in Surrey, thanks to generous financial support from the Cullum Family Trust.

Each centre will be run by school staff trained by the NAS and will provide up to 20 students from the surrounding area with additional academic support as well a range of other services, including occupational and speech and language therapies.

The NAS Cullum Centres are a response to a local need, identified by the NAS and Surrey County Council, for specialist support for students on the autism spectrum and will mean fewer students have to travel out of county to get the right education, making savings of up to £1.7 million a year.

Mr Hunt the Government Health Secretary, told more than 50 guests gathered at the launch: “This is a fantastic initiative and I’m very proud as a local MP we have got something at Rodborough at the cutting edge.

“It will help 20 students at Rodborough and become a beacon for other schools in the area.”

Mr Lever said the vast majority of autistic students were in mainstream education and struggled to achieve their full potential.

“We worked very closely with Surrey County Council to identify which were the four best performing schools for centres,” he said.

“It’s unusual for a family trust charity, a county council and a school to work so constructively together with one focus.”

Mr Cullum said: “I have experience of autism with my grandson,

“I know there are challenges and lots of joy.

“This is about helping young people achieve their potential.

“My ambition is to demonstrate Surrey County Council and the NAS are creating a model that is sustainable and should be used elsewhere in the UK.”

Rodborough headteacher Matthew Armstrong-Harris told guests the first students had been admitted last term and they were already thriving and making a valuable contribution to school life.

For information and advice see www.surreycc.gov.uk/send and www.surreycc.gov.uk/admissions