Visits to Prior's Court and visits home

General visitor information

There is general information for visitors available at Reception (which is also provided below) and we ask that all parents and their guests read and adhere to this information.

What you might see while you are here at Prior’s Court:

• All our young people have a diagnosis of autism.

• All of our young people have a high staff ratio and are either supported with 1:1 or 2:1. If our young people go into crisis you may see more staff supporting the young person.

• The majority of young people on site are non-verbal.

• Our young people access the whole site.

• They will be carrying around communication aids such as their PECS folders (picture exchange communication system) or the young people will use sign language.

• They will be carrying around transition symbols/objects.

• Young people undertake a number of different physical activities across their day.

• Some of our young people display some challenging behaviour. This might be directed at another person, self-injury or damage to property. Specific behaviours you might see are kicking, biting, hair pulling, scratching, spitting, etc. All behaviour is seen as a form of communication and is managed in a positive way by teaching the young people to be more appropriate and reward good behaviour by praise and the use of positive motivators (individualised to the young person). We do not use punitive methods to maintain behaviour. Each young person has a Support Plan which includes proactive and reactive strategies to support a young person in learning to self-manage behaviour and ensures a consistent approach across the young person’s extended day. We use a physical intervention system called Team Teach. Team Teach uses specific designated strategies. Team Teach is ‘Institute of Conflict Management’ accredited.

• You may on occasion hear a whistle. The whistle indicates that staff need support from other staff members with a behaviour or situation.

• The majority of young people live on site. Their parents come to visit them both on site and off site.