Welcome to Life Skills Manor for Autism

We are now registered with the Department for Education and opened in January 2022

During the original proposal the steering group formulated a Life Skills curriculum based upon the views of parent led groups hence the life skills element of the school. Unfortunately the project was shelved pending political obstacles associated with Free Schools.

In 2020, we were able to proceed with the Life Skills Manor proposal but in the form as a self-governing provision. We are delighted to report that we are now an independent special registered with the Department for Education since January 2022.

As a parent of a child with Autism I understand the challenges we face on a daily basis and we have designed Life Skills Manor in the knowledge of our children becoming independent as they move into adulthood. Our school has been in the making for many years and we are so excited to have opened our doors in January 2022 and be delivering our curriculum that embeds 'skills for life'.

Welcome to Life Skills Manor for Autism.

Thank you to all those that have supported us.

Paul Barrett

The Need for Life Skills Manor

Statement Source: Commissioning Plan for Education in Kent 2023-2027

The LA is responsible for issuing and maintaining Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for children and young people between the ages of 0-25 years. As of January 2022, this totalled 17,733 children and young people with an EHCP. This is an increase of 2,452 since January 2021, an increase of 16% compared to 9.9% in England. In Kent 33.5% (31.1% in 2021) are educated in mainstream (including SRPs). In Kent 39.7% of children and young people with EHCPs are educated in a special school.

SEN Need Types

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remains the most common primary need type with 42.4% of children and young people with an EHCP (0-25 years) having ASD identified as their primary need.

Provision

The number of EHCPs by establishment type (0-25 year olds); In Kent 33.5% (31.1% in 2021) are educated in mainstream (including SRPs). In Kent 39.7% of children and young people with EHCPs are educated in a special school.

EHCPs by establishment type January 2022 (0-25 year olds)

• The current total designated number of SRP places in Kent primary and secondary schools is 1,375. A total of 1,364 SRP places have been commissioned for September 2022, an increase of 90 places from September 2021.
• Kent has a total of 21 LA maintained special schools, 1 special academy and 2 Free Schools. For the academic year 2022/23 Kent has commissioned 5,495 places in Kent special schools, an increase of 259 places.
• As of January 2022, 1,681 Kent, resident pupils had places funded in an independent non maintained school, an increase of 285 places (20.4%) from January 2021 and representing 9.5% of all EHCPs; 650 of these independent placements were for a primary diagnosis of ASD and 556 for SEMH.

Life Skills Explained

The term "Life Skills" refers to those skills needed to be an independent young person and adult. The acquisition of some of these skills is particularly difficult for some youngsters on the autistic spectrum.

These skills include a huge range of taken for granted attributes and basic skills, which other children and young people learn, (apparently easily) through observation, copying, parental nurturing and self-motivation. These include things such as dressing oneself, shoelace tying, road safety, motor skill development, social etiquette, conversation skills and so and so forth.

ASD pupils often have difficulties not only at school but in the wider community too. It is known that ASD pupils are at a much greater risk of exclusion from school and often experience social isolation both in and out of school.

This is principally because children with autism can find it difficult to engage in the world around them. The aim of Life Skills Manor is to support engagement, growth and skills in a nurturing environment, whilst encouraging and empowering the uniqueness that is autism.

With this in mind it can be seen that understanding and acquiring these life skills is essential for pupils with ASD and therefore this underpins the LSM curriculum. At KS4 pupils will extend their learnt skills and engage in ASDAN accreditations. These awards are recognised by employers.