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About Day Provision
Learn more about what we offer and who we can support
Groups and Subjects
The various age groups and subject combinations we have available
Routine and Facilities
Routine and Facilities
Find out what you could expect from the day-to-day life as a Top Grades Day Student
About Day Provision
Our specialty
Our 'day provision' specialises in creating a safe learning environment primarily for pupils with autism and anxiety who need extra support.
Our successes
Most parents have reported that both home and academic lives have been transformed since starting with us. We have had great success helping our students to develop strategies to help them with the following:
- attention and listening skills,
- emotional well-being,
- sociability,
- SMART learning targets,
- sensory difficulties,
- self-esteem,
- dyslexia and dyspraxia, and
- managing anxiety
Our approach
Our small group sizes and secure, stimulating learning environment facilitates our approach to learning for children who find mainstream school a challenge. We also work closely with parents, local schools, and organisations such as ESMA and CAMHS to share good practice around autism and anxiety. The specialist advisosry teacher service (SEND) for the local authority also carries out observations of students at Top Grades to ensure their well-being and progress.
Our aim
Our aim is to give all our students the opportunity to feel safe and happy whilst learning. We are delighted to see positive growth in our students as they continue to break down barriers some students encounter with the autism spectrum and anxiety.
Groups and Subjects
Ages and groups
Our day time alternative provision classes start from year 2 through to A Levels. We group our students according to their ages but we also take their needs and abilities into consideration. The groups are small, averaging around four or five students per class.
Core academic subjects
We are able to offer a range of subjects from which our pupils can choose depending on their interests and needs, these include:
- Maths
- English Language
- English Literature
- Science
- Geography
- History
- Business Studies
- Modern Foreign Languages (French, German, Spanish)
Enrichment and extracurricular activities
We know that culture and physical well-being are core aspects of young people's development. To enrich the lives of our alternative provision pupils, we offer:
- Educational trips to enrich studies
- Outdoor learning
- Offsite physical education
- Art and music classes
- Cooking classes
- Social trips to reinforce positive relationships
Fees and subject packages
Because the needs of our students vary, we typically request that families meet or speak with us directly to discuss their requirements. Most core packages include English, Maths and Science with other subjects available upon request.
Annual fees are calculated based on the number of subjects taken and academic weeks in the year. The annual fee is then divided into monthly or termly instalments. For most combinations (such as KS3 Maths, English, Science, and Geography) we are able to offer at a discounted rate.
Contact us to arrange a meeting and a tour. if you have already decided that you want to enrol, you can apply here.
Routine and Facilities
Timetable
We know that routine is important in establishing a sense of security so our students follow a weekly timetable according to their age group and subject combinations. Their days are normally shorter than the typical school day which leaves them free to study or participate in other extracurricular activities in the afternoons.
Until such time as we are awarded school status, the number of total hours we can offer in a week is limited. However, given the small class sizes our teachers are still able to cover the same content as mainstream schools.
Convenient Location
We are fortunate to have a prime location which has several advantages, some of which include:
- Transport links - we are within walking distance of St Albans City and St Albans Abbey rail stations as well as several bus routes. Some of our students travel from as far as Greenwich and Harrow!
- Parks and green spaces - Clarence Park is an ideal place for fresh air and exercise during breaks and after classes
- Shops and cafes - some of our older pupils (and teachers) occasionally pop in to the nearby cafes and shops for lunch. They enjoy the variety and responsibility.