SENAD Aran Hall School

Aran Hall School provide flexible 38 to 52 week residential care with education to children and young people with a range of learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders, both with associated severe challenging behaviour. By providing care and education on the same site we ensure that children's individual programmes are delivered consistently. Our focus is to provide a safe, stable and nurturing environment where young peoples skills and aspirations can be encouraged to develop. We develop education, care and behavioural management programmes for each student. These programmes are evidence based which enable us to demonstrate students achievements. We are a leader in conducting and publishing clinical research that evaluates the effectiveness of the innovative programmes we run.

The school has a 24 hour curriculum that aims to:

• Re-engage students in education by providing a nurturing and stable environment

• Bring about a reduction in the frequency and intensity of any challenging behaviour

• Increase student's communication skills

• Develop self care and independent living skills

• Increase opportunities for community participation and social integration to promote inclusion and a sense of self and identity

• Where appropriate, reduce levels of psychotropic medication

We have also developed a programme for young people who present sexually harmful behaviour (SHB). The programme aims to reduce SHB via a reward programme for appropriate behaviour, sex education, counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy.

The primary aim of education is to provide each young person with a broad and balanced curriculum that is relevant to their individual needs. The School uses ASDAN as its main focus of curriculum delivery. This provides each student with an individualized curriculum that meets their specific needs. There are currently four programmes for students to follow, dependent on their age; Transition Challenge, Towards Independence, Employability and the Silver Award. Although most of the work towards these awards is done in class time, students work towards the Towards Independence Award both in the classroom and within the residential homes in the evening. Students work is externally moderated and the School has been praised by ASDAN's regional officers for high quality, both in the extensive range of activities that the students have taken part in the clarity and way evidence is collected. To enable students to access all aspects of their education we have developed a strong behavioural management programme using the expertise of our Consultant Psychologist. From their Statement of Special Educational Needs each student receives an individualised education plan, which is developed in consultation with parents, carers and professionals. In addition, we seek to increase the functional communication skills of all our students through the use of various communication methods including PECS and Makaton. Our education department is made up of qualified Teachers and Classroom Assistants. Students are taught in small groups and each student is supported on at least a 1:1 basis in the classroom, which supports them to stay on task and have the best opportunity to achieve. Teaching is divided into formal classroom settings and community–based activities, including shopping for food and leisure activities. We also have music specialists and an art teacher who visit the school once a week during term time. Students have been successful in music exams through Liverpool College of Music and students have sold their art work at local exhibitions. On reaching 16 years of age young people are encouraged to attend one of the local further education colleges in the area. This gives them the chance to experience an educational setting outside of Aran Hall, the opportunity to build new friendships and is an important step in preparing them for adulthood.