A PRESTATYN parent's support group has welcomed a special visitor.

Sally Holland, child commissioner for Wales has visited the Prestatyn Pop In Centre on Meliden to hear the concerns of parents of children with autism and additional requirements.

Mrs Holland heard from parents and one of the Pop in Centre’s founders, Veronica Wells, about a variety of issues impacting the lives of parents and children, including the transition from primary to secondary education, the availability of one to one support in schools and the lack of specialist or intermediate schools as well as limited access to speech and language therapy.

Mrs Wells said: "We had a really in depth discussion, and Sally Holland actually stayed afterwards to stay and play with the children, which doesn't usually happen and was lovely."

Part of a range of support groups and service offered at the centre, the parental support group was started three years ago by Mrs Wells after she noticed a lack of provision in the Prestatyn area.

The meeting, which took place during the half term on Wednesday, February 27 was attended by eight families who regularly attend the support group, as well as the AM for North Wales Mark Isherwood, Chris Ruane's office manager John Houghton on behalf of the Vale of Clwyd MP and the deputy minister for housing and local government Hannah Blythyn AM.

Mrs Wells added: "While it's nice that Sally Holland and everybody else came out to see us, my real concern is that so many families in the area are completely isolated and can't get in to our group.

"More needs to be done for these people, and any child with additional requirements, in school to help make sure they aren't sidelined as the lowest priority to society. These children are entitled to support they're not actually getting.

"I'm hoping that with the likes of Sally Holland coming to see us this will change, and that it might help even more families see what we're doing and come and join our group."

The Pop In Centre's support group for parents of children with autism and additional requirements meets every Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm.