Drumbeat serves boys and girls aged 4-19 within Lewisham who have been diagnosed with the highest level of autistic needs. We aim to meet the needs of very special children and young people and support them to make continued progress in their learning and acquisition of life skills. Our vision is simple – to put our children and young people first every time. We believe that all our children should leave Drumbeat independent, confident, caring, ambitious, courageous, safe, respectful, resilient, and successful.
Our school values underpin everything we do at Drumbeat. Drumbeat is a center of excellence with a strong mission and purpose to transform CYP’s lives, and the lives of their families, for the better. Its work should be groundbreaking, innovative, and creative, with a 21st-century pedagogy that puts the CYP’s needs at the heart of everything it does.
Drumbeat’s work draws from the latest research in Autism to build upon ‘tried & tested’ practice and shape teaching approaches closely to children’s learning styles.
Teaching will be unswervingly personalized so CYP actively and meaningfully engages in learning. A high priority will be given to developing effective communication approaches. Underpinning the school’s values will be a comprehensive understanding of the link between behavior and communication, recognizing that behavior is communication. Through proper interpretation, understanding and meeting needs, and enabling children to communicate their needs and desires effectively, it is possible to reduce challenging behaviors.
We have a very strong shared vision that was developed after discussion with staff, governors, students, and parents. When students leave Drumbeat they should be Independent, caring, ambitious, confident, safe, courageous, respectful, resilient, and successful.
Drumbeat’s staff will be reflective practitioners, who strive to refine, improve, and ‘open up their practice. Drumbeat will be ambitious for its pupils, striving to transform their lives, unlocking their potential, and helping them to become as independent as practicable so that as adults they become capable of contributing positively to the local community.
Drumbeat will work closely with Health, Social Care, and Voluntary Agencies so services are wrapped around the child in a truly transdisciplinary way, putting the child and family at the center. Drumbeat’s transdisciplinary work will include school employed speech and language therapist (SaLT), occupational therapist (OT), music therapist (MT), and clinical psychologist (CP) who will be an integral part of the school team and work closely with children and young people, families, teachers, and TAs.
Drumbeat’s children and young people will work in an environment:
- That is an expert in ASD,
- With a ‘can do’ culture,
- With high expectations,
- That nurtures the holistic development of the child and young person,
- That is caring, safe, happy, positive and supportive,
- That helps pupils build upon their strengths and interests,
- That enables them to reach their full potential within the context of their individual needs,
- That values equality of opportunity and actively encourages pupils to exercise control over their lives,
- Where children and young people will be treated with dignity and prized for the contributions they make,
- Where individual differences will be recognized, respected, and celebrated,
- Where pupils’ voice is respected and listened to, however subtle or loud,
- Where parents and carers will be consulted, listened to, respected, and supported.
