Prior's Court

Prior's Court Prior’s Court is a not-for-profit charity with a purpose to transform the future for autistic young people with complex needs.

Prior's Court Foundation is a UK registered charity (no. 1070227) which provides education and residential care for autistic young people with complex needs aged 5-25. The Foundation manages a School, Young Adult Provision and a training centre.

The Charlotte House "Fab Four" went out together one last time last week, heading to the Hawk Conservancy Trust for a da...
24/08/2026

The Charlotte House "Fab Four" went out together one last time last week, heading to the Hawk Conservancy Trust for a day among the birds.

Brandon, Alfie, Felix and Daniel have lived alongside each other for years, going right back to their Autumn House days, and they've shared a lot of trips out in that time. This one was special, though. It was the last one as a four, with Brandon moving on from Prior's Court shortly.

The rain didn't put anyone off. The group explored all the birds that call the Trust home, then settled in for a snack and an ice cream to finish the day.

A big thank you to the staff team who organised the trip and supported the group throughout the day.

Week 3 of Summer of Fun finally brought the rain, and after the sunshine of the last few weeks, we didn't mind one bit.T...
21/08/2026

Week 3 of Summer of Fun finally brought the rain, and after the sunshine of the last few weeks, we didn't mind one bit.

There was still plenty of time outdoors between the showers, with archery, football, swingball and parachute games keeping everyone busy. Reading FC Community Trust came back to visit, which is always a highlight, and our Therapies team had activities running throughout the week as well. We even had an outdoor cinema evening at Piper Arts Centre, with Finding Nemo on the big screen.

And when the weather did close in, we brought the fun inside. Young people got stuck into arts and crafts - making mouse houses, birdboxes, sun catchers and more - the bouncy castle was up indoors all week, before we rounded things off with a disco in the Piper Arts Centre.

Rain or shine, it has been a brilliant week.

Zac, Jenny and Peter's stories are told in The Long Road, our most recent (and Charity Film Awards) creative film sharin...
20/08/2026

Zac, Jenny and Peter's stories are told in The Long Road, our most recent (and Charity Film Awards) creative film sharing what life is really like for autistic young people at Prior's Court and their families.

As a Prior's Court Friend, you'll be among the first to see short films like this made at Prior's Court. A regular donation from just £5 makes you part of a community supporting autistic young people with complex needs, and as a thank you, you'll receive early access to films like this before they're shared more widely.

It's one of several ways we like to say thank you, alongside an invitation to our Annual Friends Volunteer Insight Day, our Annual Impact Report, our regular Fundraising Update and video updates from our Chief Executive.

Become a Prior's Court Friend today. Your Membership. Their Future. See the link in the comments to sign up today.

(The Linden Allotment JubyLee Bakes)

The sights and sounds of the Polar Express. A ship caught in a storm. A midsummer wood coming to life in sound and colou...
19/08/2026

The sights and sounds of the Polar Express. A ship caught in a storm. A midsummer wood coming to life in sound and colour. Everyday moments of creative expression and play.

These are some of the highlights from Piper Arts Centre's first full year, since opening in June 2025 as the UK's first arts centre designed specifically with autistic people in mind.

Every young person now takes part in at least one weekly drama or movement session, with many also taking part in experiences around The Polar Express, Singin' in the Rain and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Along the way we've welcomed visiting artists and companies including Playhouse Pantomimes, Synergy Dance Outreach Bamboozle Theatre Company, Reading Rep Theatre and Corali Dance Company

Read more about the year in the comments.

Brand-new fundraising challenges have just landed at Prior's Court, and there's one to suit every kind of adventurous su...
18/08/2026

Brand-new fundraising challenges have just landed at Prior's Court, and there's one to suit every kind of adventurous supporter.

Watch the sunrise from the summit of Snowdon, cycle all the way from London to Paris, or walk across hot coals right here on site at our Bonfire Night fire walk. However you choose to take part, you'll be raising vital funds to support autistic young people with complex needs at Prior's Court.

Take a look at our full list of new events and find the challenge that's just right for you, link in the comments below.

17/08/2026

Last term at Prior's Court, Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream came to life through sensory exploration, from a room full of bouncing ping pong balls standing in for chaos to a joyful wedding party in Athens.

Creative Arts Co-leads Tanya and Elise talk us through how it all came together, drawing on ideas from our friends at Bamboozle Theatre Company. Lower School explored fairies, transformation and magic through free play, post-16 built up group choreography and a stunning centrepiece used across all three shows, and our young adults developed character-led performances in pairs.

Three very different experiences, all finding their own way into the same story. Watch the full video to hear more from Tanya and Elise.

Two weeks into the August school break, and young people at Prior's Court have already had some brilliant days out.There...
15/08/2026

Two weeks into the August school break, and young people at Prior's Court have already had some brilliant days out.

There's been trips to Official LEGOLAND Windsor, The Watercress Line, Beale Wildlife Park and Finkley Down Farm. The Look Out Discovery Centre, Bristol Aquarium, Birdworld UK, Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World and Thomley have all had a visit, along with the Hawk Conservancy Trust, indoor skydiving and Donnington Castle. London theatre trips, bowling, beach days, park visits, nature walks, meals out and shopping trips have also featured.

Behind every single outing are staff members who planned and supported the trip, making sure each young person stayed safe and had a great time.

Thank you to everyone involved.

Week 2 of Summer of Fun turned up the heat, quite literally. With temperatures climbing, sessions moved earlier in the d...
14/08/2026

Week 2 of Summer of Fun turned up the heat, quite literally. With temperatures climbing, sessions moved earlier in the day, gazebos came out for shade and water play was introduced to activities.

Even so, the week was packed. There was a Colour Run, inflatables courtesy of Every Bounce Counts and dinosaur encounters from RentaDinosaur that went down a treat. Reading FC Community Trust came along and got fully stuck into the water play, and our Therapies team ran activities of their own throughout the week.

And no summer week is complete without an ice cream van. A big thank you to our friends at Morgan Lovell for treating everyone to a visit from Sir Whippy.

Nineteen young people have spent time in the Prior's Court bakery this academic year, and our bakery team have written e...
13/08/2026

Nineteen young people have spent time in the Prior's Court bakery this academic year, and our bakery team have written each of them an end-of-year "report card".

Some young people have been coming to sessions for three years, others for just a few months, but every one has built real skills along the way. Reading recipes. Weighing ingredients out properly. Working the stand mixer. Decorating cupcakes with a steady hand. Keeping the slicing and packing moving so the bread production line runs smoothly.

The team has put together a short account of every baker: what they've learned this year and what they most like to make and eat. Cookies come out on top more often than not!

Take a look at what our young bakers have been learning through the link in the comments.

At the end of the academic year, our Land-based teachers came up with their own twist on a Prior's Court favourite: Wher...
12/08/2026

At the end of the academic year, our Land-based teachers came up with their own twist on a Prior's Court favourite: Where's Wally.

An image of Wally was hidden somewhere across our 50-acre site, but whoever found him had a job to do too. They got to choose his next hiding place, ready for their peers to track him down. Over the course of a week he turned up in our apple orchard, by the swimming pool, in the Land-based Polytunnels, in our Young Adult Provision and plenty of other spots in between. He really did get the full tour of Prior's Court!

Small activities like this give young people a different kind of activity to take part in. Picking their own hiding places let them get properly creative, and more than a little mischievous. There's also a Where's Wally trail out on the Track now as part of our Summer of Fun, so there's plenty more searching still to come!

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Prior's Court, Hermitage
Thatcham
RG189NU

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