Type of service: Day schools, Nursery and pre-schools, Outreach - education, Schools

Beacon Hill is a school for pupils aged 3 to 19 years who have severe learning disabilities (SLD), profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have SLD. We cater for 135 pupils in total. The pupils with ASD are numbered 25 throughout school. We have 3 ASD specific classes each has 5 students and 3 staff: 1) Key stage (KS) 1/2; 2) KS 2/3; and 3) KS 3/4. They are however fully included in the school and have appropriate opportunities to work with the other pupils. These classes are accredited by The National Autistic Society and have a staff pupil ratio of 2:4 and 3:5. They offer a low stimulus environment and staff skilled in meeting the individual needs of pupils through the use of appropriate teaching methods. Other pupils with ASD work with peer groups having support specific to their needs within a mixed ability class, working individually and in groups as appropriate. A recent Ofsted report said that the school provides very good provision for pupils with ASD. We also have ASD provision in our sixth form at Tyne Met College. This provides an ASD specific age appropriate learning environment for students aged 16-19 years.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour, Learning disability