SOUTH Wales' first autism centre for secondary school age children was opened at a Gwent school yesterday.

Assembly education minister Jane Davidson launched the £450,000 autism support centre at Fairwater High School in Cwmbran.

The new centre, funded by money from the Assembly administration and supported by Torfaen, Newport, Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent local education authorities, will provide support for 12 autistic pupils aged between 12 and 16.

The aim of the centre is to provide a range of support services that will allow pupils access to the mainstream curriculum.

Fairwater head teacher Stephen Cocks said: "This centre is of great importance and responsibility because we are hosting a regional provision.

"It will allow pupils at the moderate end of the autism spectrum to work in a mainstream school.

"We intend it to become a centre of excellence for this sort of work."

Councillor John Turner, Torfaen's member for education, said: "The great strength of this school is inclusion, and inclusion is the philosophy behind this resource base.

"We must ensure children with autism are well catered for in the mainstream."

Ms Davidson said: "I am a strong supporter of the regional provision of services.

"The aim must be to make this resource a centre of excellence and the ambition shown by the school, LEA and the partners will ensure this."

Gwent Autistic Society has welcomed the opening of the centre, something for which they have campaigned for ten years.