The NAS Cullum Centre
The National Autistic Society Cullum Centre at Hinchley Wood School is a resource base designed to support students with Autism to thrive in a mainstream school setting. All students admitted to the Centre have an EHCP in place, with Autism as the primary diagnosis.
Students in the Cullum Centre attend lessons in the main school and must be able to access a mainstream curriculum. They are working at a level that enables them to achieve at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above in Year 11. There is flexibility within the curriculum to help reduce demands where appropriate, with students expected to engage with at least 90% of the national curriculum.
The Centre operates as a social learning environment. A child who primarily requires 1:1 support and teaching, or who needs a highly adapted curriculum, will not find the Cullum Centre provision suitable. The students access a mainstream secondary curriculum leading to formal examinations.
Additional adult support is provided in class, usually at a higher ratio of 1:4, with the aim of fostering increasing independence over time. During unstructured times, students choosing to spend time in the Cullum Centre are supported by SEND staff to develop positive social interactions.
The Cullum Centre day begins at 8:00am with a daily check-in to prepare students for their lessons and reduce any potential anxieties, with Tutor Time starting at 8:30am. The day ends later than main school students at 3:30pm, providing a second check-in with SEND staff to review homework or discuss any issues. On our early closure day on Fridays, the day runs from 8:00am until 2:00pm.
Additional support is provided as outlined in students’ EHCPs, including Speech and Language Therapy through our private SALT service and Occupational Therapy via the NHS OT service.
Places in the NAS Cullum Centre at Hinchley Wood are limited and will be allocated via Surrey LA.
Please note: Hinchley Wood School is not the Admissions Authority for places in the NAS Cullum Centre. For all details, information, and advice on the admissions process, please visit the Surrey County Council website: www.surreycc.gov.uk/send and www.surreycc.gov.uk/admissions.
If you are considering the Hinchley Wood NAS Cullum Centre for your child and would like more information before you speak to Surrey CC, please feel free to contact:
Mrs A Pescud, Head of Cullum Centre, Autism Lead
