Type of service: Day schools, Schools

Service URL: http://www.samuelwhitbread.org.uk

Samuel Whitbread Academy (SWA) is an inclusive school with a strong learning support department and an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) provision on site. The ASD classroom is laid out along Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped CHildren (TEACCH) lines to provide a calm, structured environment to minimise the student's anxiety and maximise their learning potential. Although all students have differing needs, SWA expects them to integrate into mainstream lessons for about 75% of their time. However the classroom is available should students feel the necessity to return there. During the rest of the time, lessons in social skills and opportunities to reinforce coursework/classwork are available. Social skills are also practised in context in the local community. The students are usually accompanied to their lessons by provision staff who liaise closely with subject teachers. At break and lunchtimes students may use the main school facilities or those available in the classroom. There is also the opportunity to meet with main school students who visit at breaktimes or lunchtimes.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements