Christmas 2025 at Prior's Court

Christmas at Prior’s Court is always carefully considered, as we know this time of year can be challenging for autistic young people with complex needs. Changes to routine, increased sensory input and heightened expectations can feel overwhelming.

That is why Prior’s Court strives to create bespoke Christmas experiences that each young person can enjoy on their own terms. This year, thanks to the generosity of everyone who supported our Enriching Experiences appeal, we were able to offer a season filled with meaningful, inclusive activities.

A magical visit to Santa’s Grotto

If accessing experiences out in the community is a struggle, bring them to Prior's Court is our approach. Our Santa's Grotto experience was carefully planned to meet individual needs. Each visit allowed young people to meet Santa at their own pace and receive a thoughtfully chosen gift, picked by their staffing teams and, in many cases, bought and wrapped by our friends from Gamma.

These moments were about much more than presents. They created positive memories that will last well beyond the festive season.

A teenage girl in a Christmas jumper is sat on a chair opening a Christmas present. An empty chair is in the middle and a man dressed as Father Christmas is then sat in the next chair.

Young Adult Provision Christmas Party

Our Young Adult Provision Christmas Party was a highlight of the season - featuring live music from DJ Manny (DJ and Prior's Court staff member), dancing and a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus to give out Christmas presents.

A man dressed as Santa is waving towards the camera. He is with another, younger man wearing glasses who is smiling. They are both standing in a darkened room.

Christmas Carol Concert

One of the most heartwaming moments of the festive season at Prior's Court is always our Christmas Carol Concert, which brought together young people and their families, staff, and friends of Prior’s Court - including two former families.

We were delighted to welcome Watership Brass Band, whose performances filled the space with warmth and festive spirit. The concert also featured the band playing Christmas Joy, our special Christmas song created in partnership with Downe House School in 2024. Seeing our young people take part in this shared experience was a powerful reminder of how music can connect, express and celebrate individuality.

A teenage boy is smiling and has his arms around a grown-up who is wearing a Santa hat.

Donate to our 2025 Christmas Appeal

Santa Fun Run

Festive fun took a more energetic turn with our Santa Fun Run. This event featured staff and young people going for a run/ jog/ walk around our site while donning fancy dress. A great mixture of a festive event and our Healthiness Area of Learning.

Three people dressed as Father Christmas - in red suits with fake white beards - are outside.

A very special reindeer visit

A visit from two real reindeer added an extra layer of wonder to Christmas at Prior’s Court. For our young people, this experience offered something wonderful - an opportunity to observe, interact and engage in a way that was calm, supported and meaningful.

These carefully managed encounters helped spark curiosity and excitement, all within an environment where young people felt safe.

A young child wearing a hooded jacket feeds a reindeer. The child is smiling.

Thank you for making it all possible

Every one of these experiences was made possible by donations to our Enriching Experiences appeal. Your support helped ensure that Christmas at Prior’s Court was inclusive, enriching and centred around the needs and strengths of our autistic young people with complex needs.

From all of us at Prior’s Court, thank you for helping to create a Christmas full of happiness, connection and lasting memories.

Donate to our 2025 Christmas Appeal

Comments (0)

Please verify your action

Comment (maximum 3500 characters) (required)

Add a picture

Notify me when someone makes a comment

First name (required)

Last name (required)

Email (required)

Which country do you live in?

Postcode (required)

Address line 1

Address line 2

Town or city

Keeping In Touch

We'd love to keep you posted with our news, activities and how you can help in other ways. We'll never sell or swap your details with anybody else. You are free to change your mind at anytime. Please indicate how you would like to hear from us by using the tick boxes below

By email

Yes No

By phone

Yes No

By SMS

Yes No

By post

Yes No

Which country do you live in?

Postcode (required)

Address line 1

Address line 2

Town or city

Your Privacy

We will always store your personal details securely. We'll use them to provide the service that you have requested, and communicate with you in the way(s) that you have agreed to. Your data may also be used for analysis purposes, to help us provide the best service possible. For full details see our Privacy Policy

By submitting this form you are agreeing to our terms and conditions

Website usage terms & conditions

Welcome to our website. If you continue to browse and use this website, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern Prior’s Court’s relationship with you in relation to this website. If you disagree with any part of these terms and conditions, please do not use our website.

The term ‘Prior’s Court’ or ‘us’ or ‘we’ refers to the owner of the website whose registered office is Hermitage, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9NU. Our company registration number is 3583324 and charity number 1070227. The term ‘you’ refers to the user or viewer of our website.

Other applicable terms

These terms of use refer to the following additional terms, which also apply to your use of our site:
Our privacy policy, which sets out the terms on which we process any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us. By using our site, you consent to such processing and you warrant that all data provided by you is accurate.

Our terms of acceptable use which form part of our accessibility statement, which sets out the permitted uses and prohibited uses of our site. When using our site, you must comply with this.
Our cookie use policy, which sets out information about the cookies on our site.

The use of this website is subject to the following terms of use:

The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.

Changes to our site

We may update our site from time to time, and may change the content at any time. However, please note that any of the content on our site may be out of date at any given time, and we are under no obligation to update it.

We do not guarantee that our site, or any content on it, will be free from errors or omissions.
Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timelines, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.

This website contains material which is owned by or licensed to use. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions.

All trademarks reproduced in this website, which are not the property of, or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged on the website.

Unauthorised use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence.

From time to time, this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s).

Accessing our site

Our site is made available free of charge.

We do not guarantee that our site, or any content of it, will always be available or be uninterrupted. Access to our site is permitted on a temporary basis. We may suspend, withdraw, discontinue or change all or any part of our site without notice. We will not be liable to you if for any reason our site is unavailable at any time or for any period.

You are responsible for making all arrangements necessary for you to have access to our site.

You are also responsible for ensuring that all persons who access our site through your internet connection are aware of these terms of use and other applicable terms and conditions, and that they comply with them.

Intellectual property rights

We are the owner or the licensee of all intellectual property rights in our site, and in the material published on it. Those works are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All such rights are reserved.

You may print off one copy, and may download extracts, of any page(s) from our site for your personal use and you may draw the attention of others within your organisation to content posted on our site.

No reliance on information

The content on our site is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of he content on our site.

Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information on our site, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up-to-date.

Limitation of our liability

Nothing in these terms of use excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury arising from our negligence, or our fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by English law.

To the extent permitted by law, we exclude all conditions, warranties, representations or other terms which may apply to our site or any content on it, whether express or implied.

We will not be liable to any user for any loss or damage, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, even if foreseeable, arising under or in connection with:

Use of, or inability to use, our site; or
Use of or reliance on any content displayed on our site.

If you are a business user, please note that in particular, we will not be liable for:
Loss of profits, sales, business, or revenue;
Business interruption;
Loss of anticipated savings;
Loss of business opportunity, goodwill or reputation; or
Any indirect or consequential loss or damage

If you are a consumer user, please note that we only provide our site for domestic and private use. You agree not to use our site for any commercial or business purposes, and we have no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity.

We will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a virus, distributed denial-of-service attack, or other technologically harmful material that may infect your computer equipment, computer programs, data or other proprietary material due to your use of our site or to your downloading of any content on it, or on any website linked to it.

We assume no responsibility for the content of websites linked on our site. Such links should not be interpreted as endorsement by us of those linked websites. We will not be liable for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of them.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Latest

Newbury Racecourse 5k, 10k or Half Marathon 2026

Take on a 5k, 10k or half marathon at one of Britain's leading horse racing venues!
London to Paris cycle challenge 2026

Take on this epic cycle through the English and French countryside and support autistic young people with complex needs!
Snowdon at Sunrise 2026

Looking for a unique challenge - how about climbing Snowdon at night to reach the summit around sunrise?!
Battersea Park Bungee Jump 2026

Take a thrilling 160ft bungee jump over stunning Battersea Park, with breathtaking views of the River Thames and London skyline - all to raise vital funds that help transform the lives of autistic young people with complex needs.

It's Volunteers Week 2026!

In order to celebrate Volunteers Week 2026, Prior's Court are taking a moment to thank every group who has volunteered with us in the last 12 months.
BNP Paribas come for an afternoon of volunteering

BNP Paribas sent a group of 11 incredible volunteers to Prior's Court for an afternoon of volunteering, where they got to work weeding, hedge trimming, tidying, and continuing the path dug out in the Countryside Learning Centre started by the previous groups.
National Numeracy Day 2026 at Prior's Court

On Wednesday 20 May, Prior’s Court celebrated National Numeracy Day with a focus on this year’s theme, ‘Count on your Community’. The day centred on empowering the autistic young people with complex needs we support to experience numbers in ways that felt relevant, practical and accessible throughout their daily routines.
Vodafone come and work hard in our CLC

A group of six hard working volunteers from Vodafone came to Prior's Court to continue an ongoing project started by CarneySweeney last month in our Countryside Learning Centre.
May 2026 edition

Welcome to the fifth edition of the parent newsletter for the 2025/26 academic year.
Four young people enjoy incredible CenterParcs Holidays

Four more Children's Home young people have been able to access holidays this year thanks to the incredible hard work of their supporting staff members.
Children's Home holidays at CenterParcs - making them a success

Last week, two of the young people supported by Prior's Court went on holiday to Centerparcs together. This marks the third and fourth Children's Home young people to go on holiday with their staff after two went to Blackwood Forest last year.
Downe House School help prepare for Let Me Shine Festival

Volunteers from Downe House once again came to Prior's Court on Wednesday to lend a hand with weeding and event prep for our Let Me Shine Festival on Monday, 4th May.
One young person enjoys successful first trip out into the community since moving homes

One young person enjoyed his first trip out in the community since moving to a new home in December of 2025.
Young people return to Sailability to learn about water safety

The young people of Prior's Court made a return to SailAbility earlier in April, with a combination of new and returning faces jumping into the boat the Dame Stephanie named after our founding patron.

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

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

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

Prior's Court School term dates and school times
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

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

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

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

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