Petition to Support the Establishment of the Radcliffe Neurodiverity Hub

We, the undersigned parents, caregivers, families, and community members, call for the urgent establishment of a Radcliffe Neurodiversity Hub to provide comprehensive services and resources for individuals on the spectrum and their families.

Children with neurodiversity deserve access to tailored support systems that can help them thrive at every stage of life. Yet, too often, families face overwhelming challenges navigating the existing, fragmented services. The Radcliffe Neurodiversity Hub would centralise these resources, providing a one-stop location for support, advocacy, therapies, educational services, a temporary stop gap and community integration while children are waiting for places and/or where specialist home tutors can be considered. 

By signing this petition, we express our commitment to creating a brighter future for individuals with neurodiversity ensuring they receive the care, understanding, and opportunities they need to reach their full potential. We urge local and national decision-makers to fund and support the creation of this much-needed Radcliffe Neurodiversity Hub.

Here is an outline 

Urgent Action Needed for Children with Neurodiversity in Radcliffe

Many parents are facing significant challenges in accessing appropriate education for our children with waiting lists growing longer and beyond capacity and insufficient to meet the rising demand. As a result, many children are either left without appropriate education or placed in environments that do not cater to their needs. This issue is not only affecting the education of our children but, also taking a toll on parents who are left with limited options. We need innovative solutions to address these shortages and better support for the families in our community. I would like to propose the following suggestions for your consideration.

Immediate Expansion of Specialist Provisions

Work with local councils to invest in expanding existing schools and unused public buildings into specialist neurodiversity hubs. This could offer temporary or permanent solutions for children who are currently unable to secure a place in mainstream school. 

Explore the Idea of Creating Hybrid Learning Models

Where children can access a combination of in-school support and online learning. This could be facilitated though dedicated online platforms designed for children with neurodiversity offering structures yet flexible education while waiting for a place. 

Community Partnerships Programs 

Encourage partnerships between local business and community organisations to develop programmes that provide additional educational and therapeutic support for children outside school hours. This could include sensory friendly workshops, mentoring programs and recreational activities tailored to the needs of the children.

Parental Support Networks and Training

To establish government funded support networks for parents, providing them with resources and training to better understand and assist their children.  This could include access to counselling services, peer support groups and training in autism friendly strategies.

Training and Development for Neurodiversity (Home tutors)

Given the shortage of places in primary and high schools, many families are increasingly reliant on home tutors to provide specialised education. However, there is a significant gap in the availability of well-trained neurodiversity specific home tutors. 

We need to invest in the training and recruitment of more specialised tutors for children with neurodiversity including ASC. This should include creating a pathway for tutors to receive professional certification in neurodiversity including ASC education without it taking many years to achieve. This is something we need now to enable to support our teachers. 

The training should cover areas such as sensory processing, behavioural management and communication strategies.

The estimated costs for comprehensive tutors training range from £1500 to £3000 per tutor, this investment would significantly enhance the quality of support available.

Rising Neurodiversity Diagnosis and Growing Demand

In recent years, the number of children diagnosed with neurodiversity has grown significantly. According to the NHS approximately 1 in 57 children in the UK is now diagnosed with a spectrum condition, a figure that has increased substantially over the last decade. In Greater Manchester alone, it is estimated that nearly 13,000 children are living with neurodiversity including ASC with a notable percentage requiring extra specialised educational support. Unfortunately, the current infrastructure for support for these children is struggling to keep pace with the rising demand. Local authorities are under pressure and many schools with neurodiversity and autism specific unit departments are operating at full capacity. In Bury the demand for places in schools with dedicated autism units has risen by 25% in the last 5 years. In Radcliffe a shortage of specialised education options with families reporting waiting times of over 18 months to secure a place for their child in a suitable school. When parents were asked what support, they are receiving from schools the response was NONE.  

Parent A, her son has been given 27.5 hours per week of mainstream primary education which has now been cut to 2.5 hours per week (30 minutes per day) because the needs of the child is far too high for mainstream education.

Parent B, her son is 18 and has had no help or support while the child was younger and has now had their 121-funding cut at college for the young adult.

 In Radcliffe/Bury there is 1 specialised primary school (Millwood Primary) for children aged 2-11 with 340 places which are already filled and unable to meet the needs of some children. Once the child turns 11, they are transferred to Elms Bank Specialist College.

In Bury for children aged 11 to 16 there is Brookhaven High School with 80 places available

Innovative Solutions to Fill in the Gaps

While long term expansions are planned, interim measure are urgently required to fill in the immediate gaps. Here are some ideas

Community Based Learning Hubs- to utilise public spaces to create a temporary learning environment. We propose creating s neurodiversity support hub to serve as a multifunctional site for children with neurodiversity including ASC and to support their families in Radcliffe. 

The hub would act as a vital resource for children who require specialised educational support as well as community space where parents can access guidance and respite care.

In Home Education Support- to consider pilot programmes that bring specialised 121 neurodiversity tutors directly into homes for those on waiting lists minimising educational disruption

After School and Neurodiversity Weekend Programs- develop sensory friendly neurodiversity specific learning and social programs outside regular school hours to supplement provision.

Training and Development for Educators- Teacher and staff must be well equipped to support children with neurofiversity effectively. A recent survey by the National Autistic Society found over 60% of teacher felt they did not have adequate training to support autistic children in a classroom setting.

This is also to create awareness to help children and their families get the access to education for their children and if this cannot be provided then to have access to a 121 home learning tutor to help fill in the gaps and to establish an Neurodiversity Hub for children to be able to access educational facilities while they wait for a place.

Please add your voice and help make this vision a reality for many families.