Aurora Meldreth Manor School

Welcome to our Special Needs School in Meldreth, Cambridge

Here at Aurora Meldreth Manor, many of our students have complex learning difficulties, often associated with profound physical disabilities and/or medical needs. Whatever a student’s abilities or challenges, we aim to provide them with memorable experiences and stimulating activities that promote self-esteem and personal independence.

This approach is enhanced by the imaginative use of a variety of suitable and interesting resources and environments – from the rich experiences of sound, colour and touch in the sensory room, through to energising rebound therapy and physical exercises in the hydrotherapy pool.

As a registered children’s home, we can also provide students with a vibrant yet homely space in which to live, whether throughout the year or just for a short break.

We hope you enjoy reading about our school and residential facilities, and we look forward to welcoming you and your child to our community here at Aurora Meldreth Manor.

Denise Grayston - Principal, Aurora Meldreth Manor School and Children’s Home

Our School

Aurora Meldreth Manor supports children and young people aged 6-19 with highly complex learning difficulties associated with conditions such as cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, degenerative conditions or autism spectrum conditions requiring a specialist approach.

We offer day placements for 38 weeks of the year and flexible residential placements for up to 52 weeks, including weekly boarding and shared-care arrangements or residential care placements for young people accessing other local schools.

The support we provide enables each of our students to engage and progress at their own level within a living and learning environment designed to help them achieve their full potential as they reach adulthood.

Our Facilities

Aurora Meldreth Manor is situated on a beautiful 14-acre site in the village of Meldreth, on the border of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

The school is fully accessible with hoisting facilities available throughout, and offers a range of modern, creative spaces for living and learning.

Facilities include:

· Interior-designed living areas

· Landscaped gardens

· Multi-use activity area

· Hydrotherapy pool

· Rebound therapy

· Multi-media room

· Multi-sensory areas

· Individual learning areas for break-out time and quiet time

A range of therapy is available at Aurora Meldreth Manor, including physiotherapy, speech and language and occupational therapy. We also offer nursing support where required, and we are one of the few schools in the country that caters for students with specialist medical requirements associated with complex health needs, such as enteral feeding.

Residential Facilities

Aurora Meldreth Manor is also a registered children’s home, providing flexible, accessible accommodation and a vibrant yet homely space in which to live.

Houses have spacious living/dining room with TV, games and eating areas and individual bedrooms with a mix of bathing facilities and hoisting throughout for safe and easy movement for those with physical conditions. For those that can eat orally, fresh food is prepared daily by our chef and a variety of tastes and diets are catered for.

Our residential care team is passionate about ensuring that every individual is happy, healthy and well-supported. Alongside delivering personal care and helping with the management of epilepsy and other conditions, our staff support our residents to develop friendships, explore new interests and take advantage of after-school and social activities.

We encourage families to visit regularly and are able to offer limited family accommodation

Our Curriculum

We follow the IMPACTS curriculum, a needs-led programme focusing on the key areas of: communication, cognition, physical development, environmental control technology, and personal, emotional and social wellbeing (which includes self-help and self-advocacy skills).

Where appropriate, the National Curriculum is taken into consideration in the planning and delivery of activities.

Teaching staff work together with therapists and learning support assistants to develop and deliver a meaningful, appropriate and personalised curriculum for every student. Classes are grouped according to students’ sensory needs, cognitive understanding and compatibility.

Some of our students have particular interests which are related to their developmental age rather than their chronological age. We consider it important to strike the right balance in acknowledging the students’ interests and offering age-appropriate options.

Our Outcomes · 100% of children and young people work towards formal qualifications such as AQA awards · 100% of the children and young people access an integrated therapeutic curriculum in preparation for adulthood · All our outdoor learning areas are fully inclusive, these include a Forest School, a Musical Garden as well as a number of Outdoor Learning Stations.