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

The Edith Borthwick School is a day special school for children and young people between 3 and 19 with moderate to severe learning difficulties (SLD). It has an autism resource, an 'Access' provision for students with a range of learning difficulties between 14 and 16 and a further education provision for students aged between 16 and 19. There are 21 teachers and 61 learning support assistants. The school is supported by a speech and language therapist, plus regular visits from the school doctor, paediatrician, community nurses, educational psychologists, social workers, education welfare officers etc. The school is organised under a primary/secondary department structure with senior members of staff as primary and secondary team leaders and curriculum managers for each Key Stage (KS). All pupils follow a curriculum which bases high emphasis on reading, language and communication skills, including information technology, numeracy skills and personal, social and independence skills. The curriculum combines each of these cross-curricular skills with the National Curriculum, modified to each pupil's needs. Each pupil has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), drawn up by teachers in consultation with parents, which identifies learning and social targets for that individual. Students within KS4 and 5 follow vocationally-orientated programmed accredited by lead examining bodies. Careers education and guidance is provided. Volunteers may be accepted to work with the pupils.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour, Learning disability