Prior’s Court exists because of one extraordinary person's desire to build a better future for young people with autism, after her own experiences with her autistic son.
More than 20 years on from opening in 1999, the experience, vision and passion of our Founding Patron, tech entrepreneur Dame Stephanie Shirley CH and her son Giles, continues to profoundly influence what we do and why we do it.
Prior’s Court was inspired by the experience of one parent and one autistic child. Each young person who has joined Prior’s Court since has been placed at the heart of everything we do. The experience we have delivered from day one has always been entirely individual and celebrates each young person for their own personal achievements.
Our services – what we do
Prior’s Court is a registered charity providing education and residential care for young people with complex autism, aged 5-25. Set within a 50 acre site in Berkshire, we have extensive bespoke facilities to help our young people to be healthy, happy, more independent and have the opportunity to work.
Our purpose – why we exist
To transform the lives of young people with complex autism, helping them to build a brighter, more independent future.
Our ambition – what we strive for
To be a global leader for young people with complex autism.
Our philosophy – how we achieve this
Prior’s Court is here to transform the lives of the young people with complex autism in our care; to help them achieve the impossible and give their families the magic moments they never thought they would have.
We understand that the little things are actually the big things for a young person with autism, and we celebrate them as major milestones. A daily life skill gained or an anxiety conquered today is a stepping stone towards tomorrow’s work placement, or a shared special occasion with family.
Prior’s Court never stays still. We are ambitious for our young people and aspire to be a global leader for young people with complex autism. We want to deliver outcomes for them beyond our imagination; to help transform the lives of even more young people with autism, and develop practice improvements which we can share across the world.