Grateley House School consists of small class groups, creating a supportive and relaxing environment where students can learn and achieve their personal best.

The school’s approach to behaviour is positive and nonaversive. The teaching styles and strategies are developed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in mind and are very much led by the needs of the students. The work of staff is based upon understanding the ability and needs of the student to manage academically, socially and emotionally in various situations.

At Grateley House School we aim to provide consistent, diverse, enjoyable and structured learning opportunities through an extended day curriculum.

We understand that not all young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder will learn new skills at the same pace. Our curriculum caters for students with a wide range of needs regardless of the speed of their progress. Targets are set in individual subjects and mapped through the Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) of each and every student, these plans form the basis of the fourway partnership between the student, school, family and local authority.

We believe that our students are entitled to a curriculum that is characterised by breadth, balance, relevance, differentiation and progression through specially designed pathways to suit the ability and needs of all of our young people.

Personalised approach

The curriculum followed is broadly based on the statutory requirements of the national curriculum, but the delivery of subjects is adapted to meet the very particular needs of our students.

The curriculum model emphasises the importance of key core subjects, whilst offering the full national curriculum. Our curriculum offers a range of options in years 9 to 11 that can lead to external accreditation and qualifications. There is also an opportunity for students to have short [or extended] periods of work experience where appropriate; these may be on or off-site. Where possible the school places students with local employers and works with partner organisations to ensure the suitability of placements.

Consistent teaching and learning takes place over a longer period than in mainstream day schools. Class groups are small, allowing for individual programmes of study.  Alongside the formal curriculum, behaviour management strategies and the development of social skills and skills for life are also an integral part of every lesson on the timetable.

Grateley House School provides formal education for students on 190 week days within each academic year.