A CENTRE dedicated to helping youngsters with autism has opened at a school.

It is the first support base for secondary school pupils with autistic spectrum disorder in Redcar and Cleveland.

The Applegarth Centre, at Laurence Jackson School, in Guisborough, was formally opened yesterday.

The centre's specialist teacher, Jane Goodchild, who will be supported by two specialist learning support assistants to care for up to eight students, said: "It is very much a part of the school.

"The aim is to extend the opportunity for inclusive education and to provide a safe haven.

"All pupils have had a multi-disciplinary assessment, showing that they benefit from a mainstream education.

"We are expecting the students to attend lessons with other children. We want them to be included in every aspect of school life, but we'll also be teaching them the skills to cope with those environments, giving them confidence to learn in big groups."

Acting headteacher Belinda Wheatman said she had seen improvements made by the centre.

"It has been operational since Easter, and already we can see the benefits it will provide," she said.

"We're a sports college, offering a wide range of activities, and it's vitally important this group can access the same sort of choices as all our pupils."

Council funding helped to convert a classroom into the support base.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet member for education, Councillor Ian Jeffrey, said: "We believe totally in the ethos that every child matters, and this is a perfect example of how we are trying to ensure we carry that through.

"The authority recognises that autism and other associated conditions are challenging and acknowledges there needs to be an appropriate response at local level. This centre is clearly part of this process."

The centre was opened by the council's mayor, Councillor Wendy Wall. There was also a talk by Ros Blackburn, from Essex, on autistic syndrome disorders.