Special Education Needs
Success Story: Hugh Hugh is diagnosed with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Global Development Delay, Severe Learning Difficulties and Epilepsy. Hugh was previously placed within a residential setting specialising in supporting individuals with epilepsy. However, due to difficulties supporting and managing Hugh’s wider needs, they were forced to serve notice on his placement. Hugh engaged in a variety of behaviours that challenged the staff team at the time, in particular physical aggression and environmental damage. The level of challenge that Hugh presented with meant that he was not attending formal education sessions and spent the majority of his time in a low-demand and spacious residential area.
What support did the College provide to Hugh? Prior to Hugh’s arrival the College worked closely with his existing support team to develop a well planned and executed transition appropriate to his needs. This included periods of staff shadowing and supporting to build a working rapport; concrete visual information with photographs and social stories explaining what was happening, and overnight stays prior to him moving into the College. This allowed Hugh to understand what was happening as much as possible and prepared him for the change, reducing any anxiety that he might experience as much as possible.
Caring for complex needs