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undertake after school activities and clubs either on-or off-site which are built
around their interests and abilities such as horse-riding, trampolining, climbing,
sailing, cookery, drama, horticulture, attending a youth club, and Cubs and
Scouts. A wide range of trips, outings and special events are arranged including
birthday parties, music concerts, cinema and theatre, swimming, ice-skating,
walks, bowling, using the gym and public library, museums, the seaside, and
theme parks.
9. The school environment
How accessible is the school environment?
The environment is adapted to meet young people's needs: it is highly structured,
calm, tranquil, safe and secure with space and facilities for physical exercise a key
feature. The site has education, residential and specialist facilities to support
learning across the Waking Day and opportunities to learn, exercise, socialise and
relax. Frequent access to the local town and villages enable young people to work
towards inclusion as far as possible.
Thought has been given in the design of learning and living areas to the special
needs of children and young people with autism. For example, the dining room,
which is spacious and structured to enable young people to be as independent as
possible, has acoustic tiles which reduce noise and high windows to minimise
distraction. In this way, young people are able to focus on eating a healthy diet
and building social skills during mealtimes. The houses are homely, welcoming
and relaxed, but also highly structured to support understanding.
The main teaching areas are wheelchair accessible but some residential areas are
not.
Further specialist facilities to support and extend learning:
• Health & Wellbeing Hub. Contains a medical treatment room to replicate
external healthcare settings, an in-house pharmacy, and two therapy
engagement rooms,
• Occupational Therapy room
• hall space for assemblies, theatre performances and other performing arts
usages
• spacious, purpose built dining room that enables students and staff to eat
as family groups in a social setting. Movable screens can subdivide the
space and windows are high to minimise distraction.
Leisure, exercise and recreational facilities include:
• 50 acres of safe parkland including a 10-acre wood with sculpture trail and
quiet garden