Type of service: Day schools, Schools

Benton Dene School is a primary school for pupils experiencing complex moderate learning difficulties (MLD) or autism. In Longbenton, the school shares a newly built inclusive Benton Dene Schools building with Benton Dene Primary school. Facilities in the school include specialist classrooms, specialist teaching spaces for art and design, music, food technology, two Information and Communications Technology (ICT) suites, two physical education (PE) and dining areas, a sensory integration and dance studio, speech and language therapy rooms, learning partnership and play therapy rooms, medical rooms and a community room. Outdoors there are a number of play areas, two multi use games areas, and a large grassed area that include a growing area (Cultivate) and a pond and wildlife area (Explore). Some pupils are taught in an autistic specific environment using the Structure, Positive (approaches and expectations), Empathy, Low arousal, Links (SPELL) framework and principles of Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children (TEACCH). Each environment has two large rooms - one as a formal teaching space and one as a creative space. In addition there is a calm room for the pupils to use. Most pupils are in Structured Learning environments which follow the same principles and are designed to be autism friendly to support inclusive activities.

Aimed at: Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour, Learning disability