Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Prior's Court - Autism Education and Care Charity
Careers Family Portal Contact Become a Friend Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About us
  • Our education & residential care
  • Join our team
  • Support us
  • News & events
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  1. About us

About us

Learn more about Prior's Court - a not-for-profit registered charity based in Berkshire providing education and residential care for autistic young people with complex needs, aged 5-25 and helping them to build a brighter, more independent future. 

Our purpose and ambition

Our purpose and ambition

Our charity's purpose and ambition to transform the future for autistic young people with complex needs. Read more

Published: 10th July, 2024

Updated: 29th May, 2026

Author: Rachel Drinkwater

Our autism expertise

Our autism expertise

We are ambitious for the autistic young people we support and passionate about ensuring they have the highest level of expert support in place to help them achieve. Read more

Published: 5th December, 2023

Updated: 12th May, 2026

Author: Alfie PC

Our future plans

Our future plans

Laying out our plans to expand and redefine the way we transform the future for autistic young people with our 2024-27 Organisational Strategy and our Business Plan. Read more

Published: 8th December, 2020

Updated: 2nd September, 2025

Author: Alfie PC

Our story

Our story

The story of Prior's Court - an autism education charity inspired over 20 years ago by the experience of one parent and one autistic child. Read more

Published: 7th December, 2020

Updated: 8th October, 2025

Author: Rachel Drinkwater

Our people

Our people

Key people within Prior's Court including Senior Management, Trustees of the charity and our Founding Patron, Dame Stephanie Shirley CH. Read more

Published: 6th December, 2020

Updated: 14th November, 2024

Author: Rachel Drinkwater

Our terminology

Our terminology

What we mean when we say "autism", "complex needs", and Prior's Court-specific terms such as "the Prior Approach" and "Prior Insight." Read more

Published: 5th December, 2020

Updated: 28th May, 2026

Author: Dan Whiteway

Impact Report

Impact Report

Our Impact Report, details achievements in the preceding academic year - both Prior's Court's impact on the young people we support over the year, and the impact our corporate supporters, donors, fundraisers and other backers have had on Prior's Court in the same time period. Read more

Published: 4th December, 2020

Updated: 17th February, 2026

Author: Dan Whiteway

Annual Report

Annual Report

The Annual Report and Financial Statements for Prior's Court. Read more

Published: 3rd December, 2020

Updated: 18th December, 2025

Author: Rachel Drinkwater

Reports, policies and procedures

Reports, policies and procedures

Reports, policies, procedures and other key documents for Prior's Court Foundation including the School and Young Adult Provision. Read more

Published: 30th November, 2020

Updated: 28th May, 2026

Author: Rachel Drinkwater

Back to top

Latest

  • Dexter and Otto's hair cut success

    Dexter and Otto's hair cut success

    Earlier this month, two young people from Prior's Court achieved something major - they went for hair cuts out in the community. For a lot of autistic young people, haircuts can be an overwhelming experience - this is all the more so with the learning disabilities and other diagnoses of the young people we support.

  • Tanium enjoy a turf-filled day of volunteering

    Tanium enjoy a turf-filled day of volunteering

    Five familiar faces (and one new one) returned to Prior’s Court yesterday to take part in a day of volunteering, battling dirt, grass, lost shoes, ants, and changeable weather conditions! Despite all of that though, they maintained their enthusiastic energy and left much grubbier but with a sense of accomplishment.

  • Prior’s Court Foundation response to the Government’s SEND consultation

    Prior’s Court Foundation response to the Government’s SEND consultation

    As a specialist, not-for-profit organisation supporting autistic young people with what are generally seen as the most complex support needs, our response is grounded in our direct experience of this cohort of young people.

  • Henry's first holiday with Prior's Court

    Henry's first holiday with Prior's Court

    Henry from Dove Cottage enjoyed his first supported holiday with Prior's Court, joining Imprahim for four nights at Blackwood Forest near Winchester.

Most read

  • Autism Practitioner

    Autism Practitioner

    We're looking for people with and without experience in care to join our dedicated support teams to help the autistic young people with complex needs we support to thrive.

  • Team Manager - Care

    Team Manager - Care

    Are you an inspiring leader passionate about making a difference in the lives of autistic young people with complex needs? We’re looking for Team Managers to guide our dedicated teams of Autism Practitioners and ensure that best practices are followed, leading to the best possible outcomes for those we support.

  • Our purpose and ambition

    Our purpose and ambition

    Our charity's purpose and ambition to transform the future for autistic young people with complex needs.

  • Admissions

    Admissions

    Find out more about joining Prior's Court School or Young Adult Provision for autistic young people with complex needs, including our admissions policies and process

  • The Long Road: Zac, Jenny and Peter's stories (2025)

    The Long Road: Zac, Jenny and Peter's stories (2025)

    “The Long Road; Stories of love, hope and autistic young people with complex needs” features current Prior’s Court young person Zac, and Prior’s Court ‘alumni’ Peter and Jenny, and their families. The film explores the challenges, perseverance and love that shape the lives of autistic young people with complex needs – and highlights how the right support can create lasting impact well into adulthood.

  • Autism Practitioner - Nights

    Autism Practitioner - Nights

    Our night teams play a key role in improving the sleep patterns of autsitic young people with complex needs and building their independence and life-skills.

  • Term dates

    Term dates

    Prior's Court School term dates and school times

  • Autism Practitioner - Weekends

    Autism Practitioner - Weekends

    We're looking for people with and without experience in care to join our teams working at the weekends to support autistic young people with complex needs.

  • Our story

    Our story

    The story of Prior's Court - an autism education charity inspired over 20 years ago by the experience of one parent and one autistic child.

  • Minibus transport service for staff

    Minibus transport service for staff

    We offer our Autism Practitioners minibus transport service to and from our rural site, meaning you do not need to be able to drive to work at Prior's Court.

Why we exist

Why we exist

All young people at Prior's Court are autistic, have severe learning disabilities and complex needs. We strive to help them to be healthy, happy, more independent and have the opportunity to work. We aspire to transform the lives of even more autistic young people with complex needs and continually push forward with improvements and innovations to provide the best possible care. This is why we exist. Read more

Published: 24th February, 2021

Updated: 2nd April, 2024

Author: Rachel Drinkwater

General donations

General donations

Every donation to Prior's Court, no matter how big or small, will help build a brighter future for autistic children and young people with complex needs. We are incredibly grateful for your support, thank you. For major gifts, please contact us directly. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 4th November, 2025

Updated: 23rd April, 2026

Author:

Subscribe to our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Find us

Prior’s Court
Hermitage
Thatcham
Berkshire
RG18 9NU

Tel: +44 (0)1635 247202
Email: [email protected]

Discover more

  • Contact us
  • Job vacancies
  • Annual Reports
  • Impact Report
  • Term dates
  • Family Information area


Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok

Useful links

  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy statement
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility
  • Full sitemap
Fundraising Regulator badge with validation link  

© 2026 Prior’s Court | All rights reserved | Registered charity no. 1070227

Manage Cookie Preferences