Chatten Free School is a new build SEND school in Witham, Essex, providing learning facilities for approximately 75 pupils aged between four and nineteen. The School’s design is focused on teaching students with complex autism spectrum condition (ASC) how to deal with everyday situations and to further their life skills.

Chatten Free School will be an exciting new learning environment designed in all aspects to meet the needs of the most complex autistic children in Essex. The school aims to provide the best opportunities for pupils to develop important skills which will help them to overcome the challenges caused by their autism and become as independent as possible.

The new build environment will be autism friendly in every sense of the word, providing a low arousal environment and access to both therapeutic and life skills environments. The classrooms are split into clusters each with their own ancillary spaces and therapy rooms. At the heart of the school is a roll play facility incorporating shops, a dentist, a gym and a café, helping to provide life skill experience.

The school’s primary goal is that pupils will leave with the skills that will enable them to thrive educationally, socially, and emotionally in their local community, to make a positive contribution to their community and be able to live the most rewarding, enriched and independent lifestyle possible.