Type of service: Day schools, Schools

Merchants' Academy Autism Resource Base is located in Merchants' Academy. There are currently 24 places for pupils with autism or Asperger syndrome. The school values the individual's personalities, abilities and talents and respects the children in the unit, aiming to maximise each child's potential through providing a specialist, informed approach to teaching. The school has adopted the Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped CHildren (TEACCH) approach to ensure that pupils have a safe, structured, predictable and understanding learning environment. Where appropriate the school provides integrated settings for learning. They also draw on and adopt other interventions in current use for children with autism, such as Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). The school also provides speech and language therapy and music therapy on site. Volunteers may be accepted to work with the pupils. Local Authority specialist resourced provision for statemented pupils with autism and Asperger syndrome.

Aimed at: Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour, Learning disability