Type of service: Assessment, Day schools, Residential schools, Schools

Website: http://www.priorscourt.org.uk

Prior's Court Foundation (usually referred to as Prior's Court) is a registered charity providing education and residential care for autistic people with complex needs aged 5-25. Prior's Court School is an independent special school for children and young people aged from 5 to 19 years.

All young people at Prior's Court School are on the autism spectrum, have moderate to severe learning difficulties and complex needs. The young people at Prior's Court School are non-verbal, pre-verbal or have limited language and are working from the equivalent of what were previously known as lower P levels through to National Curriculum levels 1 and 2. Some have additional diagnoses and exhibit challenging behaviours. Prior's Court School offers day, weekly and termly residential placements over 38, 44 or 52 weeks of the year.

Prior's Court School uses its own Prior Approach methodology for supporting students. The Prior Approach is shaped to suit the specialist needs of autistic individuals and empower staff to support their physical, intellectual and emotional wellbeing. Applied across all settings with consistency, the approach provides a toolkit of skills which enables individuals to make sense of the world around them and support them through their life. The Prior Approach is based on autism best practice and methodologies and is carefully adapted to suit the specialist needs of young people at Prior’s Court and support their physical, intellectual and emotional wellbeing. Applied across all settings with consistency, the approach provides a toolkit of skills which enable the young people to make sense of the world around them and support them throughout their life. The Prior Approach focuses on supporting behaviours, physical exercise, sensory differences, and communication. It is underpinned by its structured teaching approach and some of the key areas look at community opportunities, working in partnership with others and ensuring all young people lead a happy and healthy life. Emphasis is placed on creating meaningful and functional learning opportunities which build on each individual’s strengths and interests to provide a person-centred approach applied across all settings with consistency throughout their Waking Day. Learning takes place throughout the entire Waking Day and in all settings, including education, residential homes and within the wider community.

Consistency of approach is achieved through having a shared approach, careful planning and a focus on ensuring expertise for all staff. Education, residential and therapy teams work together with specialists and parents/carers to ensure consistency. This way, each young person has the opportunity to make progress in all areas of learning.

A team of highly trained staff are supported by a 52-week on-site therapeutic and multi-disciplinary team. Prior's Court also offers a young adult provision, providing a transitional step towards a more inclusive life for individuals aged 19 to 25 years.

 

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child

Gender: All genders

Specialisms: Exclusively autism specific

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour, Learning disability