Anxiety is something that all young people and adults can feel, but people with autism can feel that anxiety more intensely, and for much longer than we would expect. When left untreated, anxiety can become a blocker to progress and reaching potential.

Our inter-disciplinary therapy teams of Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Mental Health Practitioners work together with the young people to provide functional and successful strategies to help manage their anxieties. Young people may be provided with, for example, visual communication systems, sensory diets and programmes to develop their self-awareness and understanding of their emotions. This therapy, together with input from expert teaching staff and care professionals will help reduce anxiety and enable young people to have a greater chance to fulfill their potential.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

Therapy

"The therapy team helps pupils get to know themselves better. Pupils learn to understand what makes them anxious and how they can manage their emotions and feelings. This support is exceptional."

- Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form Outstanding Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

Individualised Education and Support

"The work to promote pupils' personal development is outstanding. All staff, including therapy staff, thoroughly support pupils to help them understand and manage their additional needs. In particular, staff ensure that pupils learn how to manage situations that may lead to them feeling anxious. This prepares pupils well for the daily challenges that they face, as well as the challenges that they will face when they leave school."

- Bladon House School Ofsted Education 2019

Progress can take many forms, depending on the starting point of the young person.

It might be that they become able to communicate more effectively, they are able to make a drink and snack independently, they overcome their high levels of anxiety or are able to enjoy a camping trip or other group social event. All young people are able to achieve nationally recognised and accredited awards. More able students go on to have success in further and higher education.

The young people we work with have significant challenges. Many have had gaps in their education, so one of our most important roles is to fully support them in their return to full time education. Most young people make rapid progress once they are settled as the result of a well-chosen curriculum and focused teaching. Progress is measured in small achievable steps and every success is celebrated.

We share strategies developed by our expert multi-disciplinary team with parents which means that the benefits and progress of their relative can be shared by the whole family. Our community support team can also provide support for the family during holidays and at times of transition.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

'Good Progress'

"Pupils make outstanding progress in their personal development due to the effective support they receive, particularly in managing their own additional needs."

- Bladon House School Ofsted Education Inspection 2019

Our schools are rated highly by Ofsted. We view Ofsted as our partners. Their independent inspection allows us to constantly improve our services and do the very best for our students.

A comprehensive approach ensures all pupils have enough opportunities to develop work related skills in line with their needs. Pupils gain interesting and worthwhile experiences to support their work related skills. These provide helpful foundations for their future learning.

- Pegasus School Ofsted Education Inspection 2018

Through partnership working we have been able to meet the changing needs of children, young people and adults.

Our specialist services provide the very best resources and expertise. Our school fees include individualised education and care plans with therapy, specialist transportation and high support levels. For children and young people who come to us on a residential placement we have highly experienced care staff.

This means that children and young people leave us much better prepared for the next stages of their lives.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

Our schools occupy wonderful buildings which incorporate a mixture of old historical houses and new purpose built buildings set in green, spacious surroundings.

Our residential houses provide safe, modern and comfortable places for children and young people to live. We encourage young people to put their stamp on their personal space with paint, posters, and bits of furniture - it's like home from home.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

Giving young people a voice

"The development of pupils' communication and language skills underpin all aspects of school life. Leaders and staff promote a total communication approach for pupils effectively. This includes a combination of speech, photographs. Picture, symbols and signing. Staff make the most of every opportunity to develop pupils' skills in these areas."

- Rowden House School Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

As the journey for a young person continues, they begin to be able to tolerate and better manage relationships with other young people in their daily life. At first it could be as simple as being able to pass others in a corridor or eye contact with someone.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

Each student are allocated a Key Worker who is dedicated to ensuring that the students needs are met and their voice heard.

The Key Worker is an important part of our interdisciplinary team and is a key link between school and parents.

Parents receive daily contact telling them the day that their child has had, what they have had to eat , any issues that their child has come across during the day.

Parents are also encouraged to email the Key Worker to inform them of any issues that have happened in the evening or over the weekend.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

We work closely with parents to provide appropriate education care and therapy for their child.

When we welcome a new pupil we recognise the important role that the family have already played in their early care and education.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

Students do attend classes in some capacity from the outset of the placement with us.

A major milestone for young people who join us is getting them to a place where they can access learning. Where they are settled, feel safe and secure and usually as a result their behaviour has stabilised.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

We have a multi disciplinary team approach which includes Teachers, therapists, care staff and specialist support staff.

This ensures that all areas of our students needs are met any difficulties are addressed quickly and effectively. Our students progress is constantly monitored and we can ensure effective liaison with parents and placing authorities.

Our ability to offer young people the right level of support at the right time is key to the work we do.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

How does it all benefit you and your child?

Most importantly it prepares them for the next phase of life. What that looks like is different from one person to the next. For some, it could be as simple as being able to live a fulfilling and meaningful life as part of the community. For others It could be going on to university.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

Let me tell you about our schools and where they sit on the learning scale.

Pegasus School located on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border and Rowden House School located in Herefordshire work with children and young people with severe learning difficulties and associated challenging behaviours. Very often these young people can have complex health needs.

These schools offer very high levels of support, typically one or two carers per student. Each young person is of course unique and they don’t always do the expected... we all have good and bad days and sometimes events can mean that a young persons support needs change We are all geared up to deal with that. Teachers, support staff and therapists are all involved in the classroom and work together to develop students education care programmes.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

Gaining Recognised Qualifications

"The subject based curriculum is highly effective in ensuring that pupils study a broad range of subjects and can make good progress, including English and Mathematics."

- Bladon House School Ofsted Education 2022

Let me tell you about our schools and where they sit on the learning scale.

Alderwasley Hall School is where we teach high functioning students. Usually with autism and specific speech language and communication needs. These students work towards GCSE And A level qualifications, although in smaller numbers of subjects than a neuro-typical student would.

We examine which subjects each student can achieve highly in. For some it will be maths (rules based subject which always does what its’ told) For others it may be creative subjects. We work with what a student can do. At Alderwasley the levels of care support are much lower.

The school has a Sixth Form Centre based on a separate site. The aim of the curriculum at the Sixth Form Centre is to prepare students for adult life by developing the skills knowledge and understanding they need in order to choose and achieve their personal goals. Most students at Alderwasley Hall School go on to further education and apprenticeships.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

Let me tell you about our schools and where they sit on the learning scale.

Aran Hall School is based in North Wales and specialise in working with young people with a range of learning difficulties and autism and associated severe challenging behaviour.

They have also developed a programme for young people who exhibit sexually harmful behaviours.

To find out more please call us on 01332 378840

Achievement

"Pupils thrive at this school. They study an ambitious curriculum. They benefit from an extensive range of therapeutic support. They appreciate the wide of choice of enrichment experiences available. As one parent typically explained, 'Alderwasley Hall School has given my child a future."

- Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form Outstanding Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

Independence

"Some students study course offered by local educational partners. Others value work placements nearby. Attending these different providers helps students interact confidently with new people. Students are socially responsible. They are currently involved in plans to re-wild the school's post 16 site. The 'pathways' programme prepares students very well to 'exist in the real world'. Students practice traveling independently and learn how to budget their finances."

- Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form Outstanding Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

Working Closely with Parents and Carers

Parents and carers play a key role in drawing up programmes to support their children's learning. This approach means that pupils curriculums that are well suited to their particular needs.

- Alderwasley Hall School Outstanding Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

Getting Work Ready

"Leaders ensure that preparing pupils for adulthood underpins the curriculum, especially in the post 16 provision. The curriculum raises students' awareness of healthy lifestyles and personal hygiene effectively. Staff support students to understand aspects of independent living, such as budgeting, the preparation of meals, visiting shops and cafes, as well as tolerating haircuts. Post 16 students attend a range of carefully selected work experience settings. Pupils have a say in the choice of setting. Settings include a chicken farm, a café and a local care home"

- Rowden House School Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

The Right Support at the Right Time

"Everyone we spoke with said how passionate the staff and management team were about providing outstanding person-centred care to people when they needed it. They all commented positively about the effectiveness and responsiveness of the support people received. People and relatives thought of their support workers as being like friends or family members who were highly compassionate, caring and flexible. People had achieved excellent care outcomes and feedback from relatives and professionals supported this."

- SENAD Community Derby Outstanding CQC Inspection 2020

The Right Level of Support at the Right Time

People are supported by staff to maintain their independence. A person told us, “They take me shopping and we go to the café.” This supported the person to make independent decisions about items they bought/ one person’s Care plan said the person was able to wash themselves but they required staff to put the soap on the sponge for them. Staff understood the importance to people of retaining their independence and provided responsive care that recognised what people could do for themselves and what they required support to accomplish.

- SENAD Community Coventry

Staff at the school have a sound understanding of the needs of pupils. The rapport between staff and pupils is particularly warm and respectful. There is a positive ethos at school with an appropriate focus on improving pupils’ wellbeing and learning.

- Aran Hall School Estyn Inspection 2018

A Multi-Disciplinary Approach is the Key to Success

Leaders organise a wide range of baseline checks on pupils' abilities and learning behaviours when they join the school. This helps staff to understand pupils' starting points. The multi -disciplinary team, which includes occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, contribute to this. Staff use the outcomes of these checks., alongside targets from pupils' education, health and care plans to set specific learning outcomes for pupils. This supports leaders' aims for every pupil to experience a personalised curriculum that is sharply focused on their needs."

- Rowden House School Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

"Staff know the potential triggers that may negatively affect pupils’ behaviour. They step in before such situations escalate, to help pupils manage their behaviour. On the occasions that pupils demonstrate challenging behaviour, staff respond well to provide support."

- Pegasus School Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

"Expectations of pupils' behaviour are high. Routines in and around the school are well established. Pupils are generally courteous and respectful. Staff make sure that pupils understand why they are asked to do things. 'movement breaks' help pupils stay engaged with their learning."

- Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form Outstanding Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

"Studying qualifications at an appropriate level - Education and therapy teams work together seamlessly to address every aspect of a pupils' education health and care plan. Parents and carers play a key role in drawing up programmes to support their children's learning. This approach means that pupils follow curriculums that are well suited to their particular needs."

- Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form Outstanding Ofsted Education Inspection 2022

"A highly comprehensive careers programme ensures that pupils are very well prepared for the next stage. Pupils aspire to be, for example, engineers, photographers or forensic scientists."

- Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form Outstanding Ofsted Education Inspection 2022