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

Service URL: http://www.st-nicholas.kent.sch.uk

St Nicholas School is a special school for children and young people with profound, severe and complex learning difficulties (PSCLD). All of the pupils have statements of special educational needs (SEN) for PSCLD but many also have additional needs - physical disabilities, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), challenging behaviour, complex medical conditions and sensory impairment. All of the pupils also present with speech and communication problems. Class groups are smaller than mainstream schools (12) and there are learning support assistants (LSAs) (5/6) to assist the teacher in delivering individualised educational programmes (IEP) needed by these pupils. These are set up with a multidisciplinary team (including speech and language therapy (SALT), physiotherapy and occupational therapy) and in partnership with parents. At the age of 16 the pupils transfer to our further education (FE) unit based on the campus of Canterbury College. They then follow a three year course that develops their independence and life skills. Volunteers may be accepted to work with the pupils. ASD pupils are taught mainly in mixed groups but have individual workstations in class for picture exchange communication system (PECS) and Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children (TEACCH) approach. ASD and other pupils have the chance to go to other local schools for inclusion. Also many pupils from mainstream come into St Nicholas's School for 1-2 days for variety of reasons to access specialist provision eg SALT, Fizzy - physiotherapy programme used during physical education (PE), M.O.V.E. sessions and art lessons to suit the needs of the individual pupils.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child

Specialisms: Generic

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour, Learning disability