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- Paul Barrett, Head Teacher
The Life Skills Manor School for Autism is a new school that has opened in Sandwich with an impressive goal.
Not only will it cater to the academic needs of autistic children, but will also teach them valuable life skills that aren’t even a big part of mainstream curriculums. We spoke to Head Teacher Paul Barrett about what the school hopes to offer its young pupils.
How is the Life Skills Manor different to other SEN schools?
Life Skills Manor School for Autism differs to other SEN schools because we use real life skills to make the school self-sufficient. For example, the school will not have a catering team and instead will use the food produced by the children daily for lunch. The children will be involved in creating the healthy eating menus, ordering the food with a budget, storing the food, preparing and serving the food. The school further differs from other SEN schools as there will be sensory integration therapy provided by a full-time school employed therapist.
What are the “life skills” the school offers?
The term “Life Skills” refers to those skills needed to be an independent young person and adult. These skills include a huge range of taken-for-granted attributes and basic skills, such as dressing oneself, shoelace tying, road safety, motor skill development, social etiquette, and conversation skills. The school will be distinctive in its offer of a double-stranded, integrated specialist curriculum (academic and skills based). Skills-based lessons that are linked to the operations of the school.
Other Life Skills taught at the school will include things like self-maintenance – how to do laundry, iron a shirt, housework; Forest School and outdoor skills – first aid, orienteering, map reading; life admin and etiquette – write a CV, write a letter, apply for a job, manage finances, understand email etiquette, financial literacy.
Why are learning “life skills” an extra-important skill for neurodivergent children?
ASC pupils often have difficulties not only at school but in the wider community too. It is known that ASC pupils are at a much greater risk of exclusion from school and often experience social isolation both in and out of school. 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 ASC and therefore this underpins the LSM curriculum.
What prompted you to work at the school?
This became a personal journey for me. In 2015, my son was diagnosed with Autism and therefore I decided to move my educational expertise into the SEN sector. As a parent, I felt the same frustrations many other parents experienced and realised that there simply is not enough specialist places for a growing need.