Type of service: Day schools, Schools

The Margaret Coates Centre (MCC) is an NAS accredited school that caters for 21 primary aged children on the autism spectrum. It is part of St Martin's Garden mainstream primary school. The Centre has three classes, staffed by 3.6 full-time equivalent teachers (including the Team Leader), and 9 teaching assistants. A Speech and Language Therapist spends 1½ days a week at the Centre and an Occupational Therapist spends ½ day a month. Ofsted February 2014 said "pupils at MCC make good progress from their different starting points and achieve well….pupils show considerable enjoyment of their learning". Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children (TEACCH), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Attention Autism, Makaton and TACPAC regularly support children's progress. Other activities offered by the school are regular physical education (PE) activities such as judo, horse riding, swimming, cricket, yoga, gymnastics, cycling and dance as well as frequent school trips and birthday celebrations. Inclusion into a mainstream environment is offered for children who are able to access this, informed by individual assessment. Key Stage 2 (KS2) children attend school camp for 3 nights once a year. Friends of Margaret Coates Unit (FOMCU) is a registered charity set up by the parents and staff of the school, who meet regularly for fundraising and social events.

Aimed at: Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Level: NAS Autism Accreditation - Accredited

Year: 2017