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Denbighshire's Cabinet will be recommended at its meeting on July 15th to close Hyfrydle, the 52 week residential facility for pupils attending Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn, Denbigh.

The home was opened on November 5, 2007 as a local authority provision. The Home is registered for 6 children with the intention of rising to 11. Currently two placements have been taken up.

The need for the home was identified at a time when there were very few specialist care and education packages for students on the autistic spectrum. The situation has changed with the arrival of two independent providers in the past year.

In February 2008, Cabinet decided to establish a group to develop a financially viable option for making the best use of the provision for vulnerable children and young people with complex and/or multiple special needs.  Extensive research has been carried out across Wales which has indicated there is over capacity of 52 week provision for autistic spectrum disorder in Wales and there are therefore unlikely to be enough ASD children and young people requiring full time residential places.  Hyfrydle is not financially viable and the research suggests that this position will not change.

Councillor Hugh Evans, Leader of Denbighshire and Cabinet Lead Member for Lifelong Learning, said: 'This is a very difficult issue for all concerned and I can assure people that we have carefully considered all the options available to us. The recommendation to close the facility is very much a last resort.

'Over the next 12 weeks we will be locating alternative placements for the existing two residents and will be consulting with staff regarding redundancy. Every support possible will be offered to those involved.'
The parents of the young people at Hyfrydle, staff, unions and the governing body of Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn are being informed of the recommendation and reasons for it.

Note to editors: 

Hyfrydle is a children's home run by Denbighshire County Council.  It is located on   the same site as Gerddi Glasfryn which provides accommodation for some pupils at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn during the school week.  The recommendation to close Hyfrydle does not affect Gerddi Glasfryn.  While the young people at Hyfrydle attend Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn, it is not part of the school and is the responsibility of the County Council.