Our autism-specific provision for Secondary aged students offers a highly-staffed, calm, distraction-free environment within which pupils can work as a group or individually to reach their potential. There is a strong emphasis on developing communication skills and independent work skills to enable students to speak for themselves and make clear choices. Students work on developing ‘skills for learning’ that can take them through their Post 16 curriculum and into their adult lives.

Our classroom is purposely designed to meet the needs of young people with learning difficulties and autism. It is of low-stimulus, safe, secure and appropriately resourced. The use of symbolic communication systems and structure aims to build security for students and facilitate choice making. Our teaching approach is eclectic, drawing on best practice and including approaches such as TEACCH and PECS.

Activities are developed around termly themes which offer opportunities for students to develop key skills and make progress at their own level. These are skills which they will take forward into Post 16 and beyond.