--- title: "Social Communication Difficulties Unit" url: "https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/learning-support/social-communication-difficulties-unit" school: "Ashton Community Science College" --- # Social Communication Difficulties Unit ### Overview As part of the provision at Ashton, we have a specialist unit for children with social communication difficulties/autism. The unit is in a small building on school site and students are based there for up to 100% of their learning. They do have the option of attending lessons within the mainstream setting as well. The unit is run by our specialist teacher and a team of teaching assistants. ### Entry criteria Entry to the unit is through the local authority, usually led by the Caseworker for the child’s current educational setting. The local authority has commissioned this provision and they are the gatekeepers. Students must have an Education, Health and Care plan with a main area of need being social communication difficulties/autism. ### Curriculum Students in the unit follow the school’s mainstream curriculum as much as possible to ensure a broad and balanced curriculum and also to allow them to transition to accessing mainstream lessons where they feel ready to. Alongside this they also work on developing life skills and use the autism education trust framework (AET) to develop their social and emotional needs. The team of staff are supported by other specialist teachers from the local authority and Reachout ASC. ### Contact If you wish to know more about the specialist unit, please contact: > Mrs Cheryl Parker > > SENCo > > > > 01772 513002 ### Links for Families The links below give information on services in the area for children with SEND and helpful advice for parents: - [LCC Find Newsletter](https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/media/939696/find-newsletter-winter-2022.pdf) - [Kids.org](https://www.kids.org.uk/sendiass) - [Autism Education Trust](https://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/) - [Downloadable Resources](https://reachoutasc.com/resources/downloadable-resources/) ### Parents - [Learning Support](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/learning-support) - [Introduction](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/learning-support) - [Deaf Support Unit](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/learning-support/deaf-support-unit) - [Social Communication Difficulties Unit](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/learning-support/social-communication-difficulties-unit) - [English as an Additional Language](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/learning-support/english-as-an-additional-language) - [Bridge Class](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/learning-support/bridge-class) - [Intervention](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/learning-support/intervention) - [Whole School Learning Support](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/learning-support/whole-school-learning-support) - [Inclusive Attendance](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/inclusive-attendance) - [Leave of Absence](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/LeaveofAbsence) - [Policies](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/about-us/policies) - [Prospectus](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/Prospectus) - [Request for Copies](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/request-for-copies) - [School Day](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/school-day) - [School Meals](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/school-meals) - [Term Dates](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/Termdates) - [Unavoidable Closure Guidance](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/unavoidable-closure-guidance) - [Uniform & Equipment](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/uniform-equipment) ![Ashton Community Science College](https://files.schudio.com/ashtoncommunitysciencecollege-2/images/logo/badge-and-text.png) #### Ashton Community Science College Aldwych Drive Ashton-on-Ribble Preston Lancashire PR2 1SL 01772 513002 #### Useful Links - [Admissions](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/about-us/admissions) - [Term Dates](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/parents/Termdates) - [Policies](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/about-us/policies) - [Job Vacancies](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/job-vacancies) #### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ashtoncommunitysciencecollege) - [X](https://twitter.com/Ashtoncsc) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ashtoncommunitysciencecollege) © Copyright 2025–2026 Ashton Community Science College School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://ashtoncsc.lancs.sch.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)