The Margaret Coates Centre, first opened in 1969, caters for primary aged children with autism and/or communication disorders. It is part of St Martin’s Garden Primary School and has 14 children on roll.
What is Autism?
Children with Autism have difficulties in three specific areas:
We aim to develop both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Makaton sign language is used throughout the unit.
Social skills training forms an important part of the school day. At lunch time all staff eat with the children and appropriate social skills are taught and developed.
Shopping trips, visits to local places of interest and school camps all provide further opportunities to practise social skills.
we aim to teach and develop appropriate play. Drama, dressing-up and home corner play are all used to help children explore and understand the world around them.
We aim to help the children in the Centre develop their full potential. All the staff work hard to build up positive, trusting relationships with the children. A happy atmosphere is essential if learning is to take place.
We aim to teach the children the skills they need to ‘live in this world’. To enable the children to develop appropriate life skills we establish a predictable daily routine and a consistent approach. This helps to minimise anxiety and, therefore, creates an atmosphere in which the children can learn. "Change” is built into the routine and staff work with the children to help them accept change as part of life.
In planning for each child’s individual needs we aim to:
• provide a broad and balanced curriculum which targets the child’s specific needs
• ensure each child has access to the National Curriculum
• raise each child’s self esteem
• encourage independent work skills
• encourage tolerance and a sense of belonging.
Each child is encouraged to take part in integration activities at the mainstream school at his/her own level. All the children join in with Assemblies and play times. Further individual integration programmes are set up when appropriate. Opportunities are also provided for infant and junior children to join in with some unit activities.
The Friends of Margaret Coates Unit is a group of parents, staff and other supporters of the Centre who meet regularly, usually once a month in term time.
Meetings of the Friends provide opportunities for staff and parents to get together. Parents support each other and share ideas to help the children of the Centre, with staff members always on hand and able to provide a wealth of experience in helping Autistic children.
Activities are planned throughout the year for children, parents and friends. These include information sessions, social events and fund raising activities.
The Friends of Margaret Coates Unit has been a registered charity since July 1995. In this short time funds have been raised to make a number of improvements to the buildings and to provide facilities not offered by the Local Authority. The Friends have funded new playground equipment, as well as horse riding and music therapy. It has most recently provided furniture and equipment for the new building.
With such a small unit help is always welcome. If you are interested in helping children with autism and would like more information about the Friends please contact the Centre. |
