Our School

Our school comprises of a home and a special school that provides education and care for young people with autistic spectrum conditions of both genders, from eleven to eighteen. Our students may have additional needs such as: Anxiety Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity, Emotional Difficulties, and Attachment Conditions.

We are situated in a stunning location to accommodate vulnerable young people with complex needs. There are extensive gardens and the tranquillity which they offer has many benefits and allows the young people to express themselves freely.

Young people are placed with us for a variety of reasons. These may include:

• Family and placement breakdown, respite, day school, and residential school placement breakdowns
• Young people who may have experienced abuse along with having complex needs including autism and learning difficulties

Without the correct support, young people with autism can find education extremely challenging. In addition to this, when young people are welcomed into Overton School, they often arrive at a time of crisis. These traumatising experiences frequently leave young people feeling disempowered and with a diminished sense of self-worth and self-esteem. Coupled with their autism these feelings can manifest themselves in behaviours that are socially unacceptable and present a considerable barrier to learning.  Our young people have often had their education disrupted and therefore are understandably anxious about re-entering education.

The staff at Overton School have a wide range of experience in working with all aspects of autism and other special educational needs, delivering accredited courses and providing supportive care packages. Our extensive experience in supporting young people with autism enables us to break negative cycles, create the right environments and deliver the necessary support needed for a young person to achieve in all areas of their development for future life. At Overton School we offer our young people a consistent environment and structure, which will enable them to reengage in education, develop social skills and a sense of self-worth through achievement.

 

The philosophy of nurturing self-worth and self-esteem underpins all aspects of work undertaken and is informed by the principles of The National Autistic Society SPELL approach. We centre on the main areas of:

Structure: seen in how we organise the environment, our use of personal schedules and systematic strategies to work.

Positive approaches and expectations: through sensitive but persistent intervention based upon thorough individual assessment.

Empathy: based upon respect for personal experience to inform what motivates and what may frighten, preoccupy or distress each individual.

Low arousal: based upon individual sensory-motor profiles and the use of PRICE for the positive management of potentially challenging behaviour.

Links: through a thematic approach to the curriculum and a multi-disciplinary team-work approach across the service and with families / significant others.

The aim of the school is to provide a suitable environment with a high level of therapeutic support and excellent teaching to allow young persons with autism to achieve their full potential and to make the most of their intelligence, focus and skills.   In our calm and structured environment, young people can begin to regain a sense of self-respect and respect for others that will enable them to thrive academically and socially. We work hard to ensure that our young people get the best opportunities to further their studies in mainstream settings and beyond to further education, paid work and apprenticeships.

We foster a community spirit and positive atmosphere at the school which are a key indicator of the hard work and dedication of the staff and the level to which young people enjoy and achieve.  Celebrating success is a regular activity within the school. Young people can access a wide range of rewards and are instrumental in determining this and many other aspects of the school through an active Student Council.

Our Ethos

Download our Ethos, Vision and Mission

 

Read our Full Ofsted Inspection report

Download the Overton School Ofsted Full Inspection Report