Type of service: Day schools, Nursery and pre-schools, Outreach - education, Schools

Southmead Primary School is a mainstream primary school with specialist provision for 20 children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Children with ASD are taught in their mainstream classes, which are adapted to be autism-friendly, and they receive a personalised package of specialist teaching and support based on their individual needs and areas of development. At Southmead we incorporate aspects of Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children (TEACCH), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) into the mainstream environment and staff are involved in ongoing training and professional development. We provide specialist teaching involving a range of interventions including Drama Therapy, therapeutic art, self esteem, social skills and anger management sessions, and we have a full time speech and language therapist who works alongside staff to devise and implement programmes. Our accommodation includes a sensory garden, activity trim trail, therapy rooms, secluded grounds and a secure school site. The school uses the Structure, Positive (approaches and expectations), Empathy, Low arousal, Links (SPELL) framework in their approach but we accept that in a mainstream environment it is unrealistic to eliminate distracting stimuli entirely and pupils are assessed individually in regard to arousal levels.

Aimed at: Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements