Type of service: Day schools, Outreach - education, Schools

Westfield Arts College is a special school catering for pupils with complex learning difficulties, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are approximately 180 pupils on role, 50% have a diagnosis of ASD. We offer a spectrum of provision from highly structured Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children (TEACCH) based classes (6 or 7 pupils) to more flexible larger classes (average 12 pupils), still with significant levels of visual support and ASD specific strategies. Pupils with an ASD diagnosis are fully integrated within the school. Westfield offers outreach to local primary and secondary mainstream schools and works with staff to increase capacity to cater for youngsters with ASD placed in mainstream settings. We also offer training to local secondary and primary schools. Westfield coordinates and delivers EarlyBird and EarlyBird plus courses for parent and other professionals across Dorset. We also deliver Barnardo's Cygnet programme for parents of pupils within Westfield. The school also offers training for parents, EarlyBird & EarlyBird Plus, and Cygnet courses. Volunteers may be accepted to work with the pupils. Structure, Positive (approaches and expectations), Empathy, Low arousal, Links (SPELL) is the underlying framework used in all our classes across the school. Other interventions offered by the school include positive behaviour management, therapy dogs, PEIC'D, intensive interaction.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour, Learning disability