3 year old eating with hands in daycare

My three year old was diagnosed with "suspected" autism (she was tested but scored borderline but the specialists suspect that she is on the spectrum) and she is an extremely sensitive child. It took her months to adjust to daycare and she refused to eat anything there for almost 8 months. Then one day she started eating but with her hands (they serve hot meal with soup for lunch). At first this was huge and everyone was so happy she was finally eating. Now it's been 6 months and she is still eating with her hands. She refuses to use her utensils even though out of daycare she has no problems whatsoever with utensils and never touches her food with her hands. Talking to her doesn't help and I can't pressure her as I know this will result with her stopping to eat again. The daycare told me this morning that all the other kids are copying her now and they will have to do something. Their plan is to move her to a separate room to eat (with one friend). But they tried this a few months ago and my poor girl was so upset she was crying begging us not to send us in because she didn't want to eat alone. I'm really at a loss what to do here. Any suggestions for sensitive kids who perhaps had something similar happen?!