The National Austistic Society school policies

• Schools admit children with a diagnosis of autism. We admit children who require specialist schooling, but who may proceed to different levels of inclusion in mainstream education, or local authority special schools.
• Schools offer broad, balanced and relevant curricula, which are subject to regular and continuous review and will, as appropriate, include the National Curriculum.
• Schools maintain an appropriate ratio of staff to children. Small groups and individual teaching ensure that children are offered an education that meets their needs. Individual programmes, positive intervention and support facilitate continuous development.
• Individual programmes are set in the context of the school’s broad, balanced and relevant curricula and arrangements for residential care. The role of the school is not only to provide an academic education, but also to educate children in social, practical and communication skills.
• Schools, parents/carers and representatives of local authorities are encouraged to work collaboratively to support the children’s education.
• Schools implement agreed policies on behaviour support and sanctions, bullying, sexual relationships, education and safeguarding.
• The National Autistic Society schools are supported by a range of acknowledged experts in the field of autism.

The National Autistic Society has an extensive range of policies and procedural guidelines which are available on request.

Examples of policies include: admissions, remissions and exclusions, anti-bullying, behaviour support, compliments, comments and complaints, curriculum, health and safety, race equality, safeguarding children and Special Educational Needs.

NAS Academies Trust policies

The National Autistic Society Academies Trust operates a network of free schools, including Vanguard School, Thames Valley School and Church Lawton School. The Trust has developed key policies to ensure consistent high quality practice across the Trust. Each school develops their own procedures as an appendix to the Trust policies. Each school’s admissions policy can be found on the admissions page of their website. Other key policies are published below.