Camphill School News

I AM glad to be able to announce that the Camphill Rudolf Steiner Schools are now accredited with the National Autistic Society and become one of only two Schools in the NE of Scotland to achieve this. During the accreditation team's visit, which lasted four days, they observed 40 activities and commented:

0% were poor

1 % were less than satisfactory 48% were satisfactory

39% were good

12% were outstanding

There were only 4 recommendations all of which have all been taken up by various task groups.

Importantly for the `Save Camphill' campaign they wrote:

The review team are aware that the local authority has plans to build a road bypass next to the school (at Murtle Estate), and whilst we recognise that this is outside the control of the Camphill Community we would nevertheless ask that the Community approach the local authority with a request to investigate alternative routes - since the review team believe that the plans for the new route and the resulting effects of such a bypass, along with the disruption caused by the works carried out, can only have a detrimental effect on the quality of life for the children with autistic spectrum disorder within Camphill. The review team are also aware of a report suggesting that the children with autism become actively involved in such a project in order to desensitise them to the effects of the planned route. It is the belief of the review team that this report at best shows a naivety into the complexity of Autistic Spectrum.

This of course holds good for Linn Moor School as well as our Camphill Estate should either of those alternative routes be preferred. We therefore hope that none of these potentially damaging routes will be chosen.

One of our new initiatives involving local children has got off to a successful start. Amber, the Early Childhood Centre, has been very successful in its first year. It is now full and questions regarding its expansion are in the air. Furthermore, work in the afternoons with the Culter Satellite play group is also progressing well.

Before closing, I would like to remind you all that we will be having our annual Open Day on Saturday September 24th in the afternoon and hope that as many of you as possible will be able to attend.

Laurence Alfred