Routine is 'all-important' for special needs children

Closure of school was an unfamiliar interruption for children of St Andrews.

ABU DHABI // The new principal of St Andrews school says getting the youngsters back to their normal routine is a top priority.

The school caters for 53 children with conditions including Asperger's syndrome and autism.

"We want to work towards getting students back to a normal school with smooth integration," said Kamal Fodil, the new head.

Prof Abdelaziz Sartawi, department head of special education at UAE University, said: "The closure of the school will have affected the children greatly."

He said any break in routine among special-needs children could cause great distress.

Pupils with autism, for example, crave routine and are subject to tantrums if there is a change in their schedule.

* Thamer Al Subaihi