Type of service: Day schools, Schools

Beaucroft is a Foundation Special School that caters for children between the ages of 4 and 16 who are experiencing learning difficulties, including complex needs and those with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Beaucroft serves the communities of Dorset (our host Local Authority (LA)), Bournemouth, Poole, West Hampshire and South Wiltshire. Admissions are controlled jointly by the school, Dorset special educational needs (SEN) and the authority where the child lives. The school currently has approximately 45 per cent of children with a statemented diagnosis of ASD, of whom 20 per cent are currently taught in 5 discrete ‘Autism Specific’ classes (the base), as well as throughout the school as a whole. At Beaucroft, we recognise the responsibility that parents and carers place upon us to ensure that their children are safe and receive the best possible education. The school continues to develop, having been recently awarded Specialist School Status in Communication and Interaction (from September 2009) and in planning to provide post 16 education, from September 2009, in addition to the many ‘badges’ relating to good practice we already hold. Visits to the school are encouraged, as the only way to get a full understanding of the place is to experience it for yourself.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Learning disability