Why Special Schools Are Good for Children with Autism

Key Points

• Special schools provide tailored learning environments for children with autism
• Small class sizes enable personalized attention and support
• Comprehensive focus on both academic and life skills
• Sensory-friendly environments help manage autism-related challenges
• Strong parental engagement and partnership
• Legal framework ensures proper support and funding

Our Journey to Finding the Right School

One balmy August morning in 2021, Kate burst into my workspace, her face alight with a grin I hadn't seen since April 2015 – when we first locked eyes over sizzling skewers at a friend's barbecue in Portsmouth. That smile of hers? It's a rare comet, streaking across the sky only when something extraordinary lands. So, I braced myself, my heart thumping with hope.

"Jayden's new school has invited us to visit next week", she announced, her voice dancing with joy. I abandoned my desk, swept her into a tight embrace, and whispered, "The boy will be found!". It wasn't just relief – it was a promise igniting, a spark that had been flickering since I'd joined Kate and the boys in the UK.

Jayden, our largely nonverbal son, was a mystery I'd come to know well. His silence wasn't empty – it was the hush before a symphony, a mind brimming with ingenious chapters. He'd unravel patterns at lighting speed or lock himself into a task with a focus that could carve diamonds. I'd always believed: get him into the right school, and the world would see the brilliance we had seen in him.

The Special School Difference

The visit to a special school in Portsmouth wasn't just a tour – it was a reckoning. We stepped in with hearts tangled in nerves and hope, not just grappling with autism but wrestling the weight of how it's viewed. Growing up in a dusty Kenyan village, I'd never heard "autism" spill from anyone's lips; special schools were inexistent. Even later, in Nairobi's bustling streets, autism lurked in shadows – whispered as a curse, draped in myths, knotted in shame. You'd wonder if it even existed there. It does, but as a fearful enigma. When a child is nonverbal, flaps their hands, shies from eye contact or experiences social challenges, they might not be diagnosed - they're branded a spirit's mark, a family's fault, often hidden away like a secret too heavy to bear. In much of Africa, awareness is a faint flicker; culture paints autism as a supernatural riddle, not a neurological truth. Education systems, starved of resources, lag behind — some mainstream schools turn kids with autism away, and special facilities, rare and overstretched, buckle under strain. Countless children like Jayden are left adrift, their potential to live boldly and soar untapped - never to live limitlessly and achieve their full potential.

But that day in Portsmouth flipped the script we had. Warm staff greeted us like old friends, their positivity a steady pulse from the moment we arrived. They didn't just care—they cared—showing us how Jayden's growth and happiness were their mission. The school's vision struck me like a bell: "Together we persevere and innovate so every child is confident, enjoys learning, and develops skills." Their values sang the same tune—nurturing communication, forging bonds, building grit, and sparking independence. These weren't just words; they were lifelines, the very things we craved for Jayden back then. As we walked those halls, I felt it: this wasn't just a school—it was a launchpad, a place where our silent genius could finally be found and set to soar.

In September 2021, Jayden stepped into his new special primary school in Portsmouth – a leap into a world stitched to fit him like a bespoke suit. Now, I'm not here to paint special schools as flawless utopias; they've got their hiccups – funding lags, staff shortages, and some staff may fail to see possibilities of a child beyond autism "label". But one truth stands tall: they're built and equipped to support children with autism, armed with expertise and a culture that turns chaos into a launchpad for growth. Within weeks, Kate and I watched Jayden unfurl like a spring bud. Single words bloomed into phrases, then full sentences. His mind sharpened – math's and gaming became his wizardry, and socially? He struts into a room like he owns it.

Key Benefits of Special Schools

1. Experienced and Autism-aware Staff

Our first chat with Jayden's teachers was very fulfilling. Their autism know-how wasn't textbook-dry; it was alive, honed from years of guiding kids like him. We saw it in action: one-to-one sessions where they decoded his quirks, group games where he found his footing. This wasn't a solo act—teachers teamed up with teaching assistants, speech and occupational therapists — all trained to crack autism's code. They'd spot a trigger—like a barking dog — and flip it into a chance to teach calm. For once, Jayden wasn't babysat; he was sculpted — his whole self, from words to independence, lifted with care.

2. Small Classes, Mighty Wins

Forget mainstream's 20-plus-kid stampedes. Here, classes cap at under ten, a tight circle where every child's a star, not a shadow. Jayden got eyes on him—teachers catching his grin when he nailed a sum or his frown when focus slipped. That closeness meant no pressure, just guidance, with one-to-one chats tailoring every lesson to him. It's child-centered magic—less chaos, more breakthroughs.

3. Focus on Life Skills

Before special school, Jayden's world was a tangle—he'd miss the toilet, fumble shoes, stare blankly at a sandwich. This school didn't just drill ABCs; it handed him keys to life. Toileting? Mastered. Shoes? Tied. Sandwiches? Made with pride. They wove in manners too—Kate's "good choices" echoed here, teaching him to weigh actions. It's a holistic hug, seeing him as a person, not a pupil, building skills to thrive in a wild world.

4. Tailored Learning That Flexes

Mainstream's rigidness crushed Jayden—one-size-fits-all learning approaches left him lost. Special school flipped that. They assessed him—how he learns, what he loves—and bent the rules to fit. Nonverbal? No forced phonics; they danced with sign language and picture cards till his voice broke free. His Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) was his compass—personalized, with targets he could smash, from words to resilience. They didn't stop at that; swimming, horse riding, science, tech—they flung open doors to new passions, prepping him for tomorrow's spotlight.

5. Sensory Havens

Autism's sensory storm—bright lights, loud bangs—used to swamp Jayden. This school gets it. Ear defenders muted his noise woes; quiet rooms with cushions and soft glows became his reset zones. When the world roared, he'd retreat, calm washing over him—no meltdowns, just peace. It's inclusivity with soul, taming the tempest so learning can bloom.

6. Parental Engagement

We weren't sidelined—we were copilots. From co-crafting Jayden's EHCP to having weekly conversations with his teachers and termly reviews. They handed us tricks—visual schedules, calm cues—to mirror school at home, turbocharging his growth. A daily log, scribbled in his book and pinged via app, kept us looped in—Kate noting a gaming win, teachers flagging a wobble. It's a partnership that powers Jayden's stride.

Legal Framework and Support

Special schools in the UK are legally backed. The system to support learning and development of kids with autism is supported by the Special Educational Needs and Development (SEND) Code of Practice. This means strategies such as an EHCP are not optional, but law. EHCPs are funded by respective local authorities. They are not charity; they are a right – and this empowers special schools to deliver what is best for each child.

Looking Forward

For Kate and me, special school holds the reason why Jayden's world flipped from silence to a symphony of words, math wizardry, and fearless strides. Special schools don't just catch kids with autism when they stumble — they hoist them skyward, proving that with the right stage, their brilliance doesn't just flicker — it blazes. And trust me, when you see your child soar like that, you'll know this is where they were always meant to be found.

However, it is always good to keep track of the trajectory of your child's learning and development. Like any other setting of learning – special schools are not meant to be lived forever. Our kids must graduate into something – and that calls for parents to stay awake, review and know when their child is ready to transition to the next level in their lives.

"Special schools don't just educate children with autism – they help them discover their potential and prepare them for a limitless future."

Want to learn more about transitioning from special schools to mainstream education? Check out our next article on successful school transitions!