The Communication Centre at King Charles I School:

The Communication Centre at King Charles I School opened for Year 7 and Year 8 pupils in September 2007; this is based on the Lower School Site.
A second centre for older pupils opened on the Upper School Site in October 2008.

Both centres aim to provide effective working environments, specialist resources and teaching for pupils with specific needs.

This includes autism, specific language difficulties and moderate learning difficulties.

Both centres have three classrooms that share a social skills area. The social area is the hub of the centres and pupils are encouraged to invite mainstream friends in, cook their own lunches and engage in social activities. The centres are self contained, having toilets and an area for pupils to change for PE,  meeting / chill rooms, multimedia rooms and quiet areas where pupils can work on their own or with visiting professionals. There are also  garden areas on both sites and the lower school site has a small IT suite.

We aim to be a ‘centre without walls’ in that inclusiveness will be promoted at all levels and be seen as a two way process that involves all staff and pupils of King Charles I School.

The focus is on the individual, enabling participation in the mainstream of the school according to needs, ability and strengths. Pupils who are allocated places are expected to work towards attending mainstream classes as our role is to act as a stepping stone into the main body of the school.

Essential elements of the provision are:

• Specialist teaching and support staff to help plan and support the pupil’s time in mainstream settings and to deliver supplementary programmes of work
• Rooms and outdoor spaces that provide a safe haven away from the pressures of the mainstream
• An autism friendly environment that reduces sensory discomfort
• Bases for individual and small group teaching
• Delivery of a personalised curriculum to meet special needs
• Access to specialist resources
• Close working relationships with parents

For further information and a copy of the county’s policy on additionally resourced provision in mainstream school please contact Mrs C Carter (Centre Manager) at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it