Two Essex families are celebrating huge milestones this September as their young sons prepare to take the next step in their education journeys – something that once felt out of reach.
Chatten Free School in Witham opened in 2021 with a clear mission: to provide a highly specialist learning environment for children with autism and complex needs who were unable to thrive in other SEND settings. For many families, it offered a lifeline – a safe and nurturing space where children could access education when the only alternative had seemed home schooling, long-term care, or being left without provision at all.
Now, just two years on, two pupils are ready to leave the intensive one-to-one support of Chatten and move on to new schools in Chelmsford and Braintree – a transition that staff, parents, and pupils are celebrating as a remarkable achievement.
Harrison’s story: finding his voice
When six-year-old Harrison Owers from Chelmsford first joined Chatten, life was tough. He was non-verbal, still in nappies, and often struggled with destructive behaviour. His mum Abbey remembers how uncertain the future felt:
“We expected Harrison to need a lot of support right through adulthood. We just couldn’t imagine what his life might look like.”
“We expected Harrison to need a lot of support right through adulthood. We just couldn’t imagine what his life might look like.”
“We expected Harrison to need a lot of support right through adulthood. We just couldn’t imagine what his life might look like.”
With the school’s individualised curriculum and dedicated one-to-one teaching, Harrison has flourished. Today, he is toilet trained, learning to communicate using a tablet app, and even practising everyday skills like making drinks and getting dressed.
“Most of his meltdowns came from not being able to tell us what he wanted,” Abbey explains. “Now, with the app and his new confidence, he’s even saying words and copying sounds. It’s incredible to see.”
“Most of his meltdowns came from not being able to tell us what he wanted,” Abbey explains. “Now, with the app and his new confidence, he’s even saying words and copying sounds. It’s incredible to see.”
“Most of his meltdowns came from not being able to tell us what he wanted,” Abbey explains. “Now, with the app and his new confidence, he’s even saying words and copying sounds. It’s incredible to see.”
This September, Harrison will join The Edith Borthwick School in Braintree, where he’ll continue his education with a new sense of independence.
Harrison’s story: a whole new world of independence
Another Harrison – seven-year-old Harrison Chapman from South Woodham Ferrers – is also about to spread his wings. His parents, Jenni and her partner, remember a heartbreaking early experience when he spent an hour crying on the floor of a mainstream school, completely overwhelmed.
At that time, he was non-verbal, in nappies, and his parents felt his future would be a lifetime of care. But at Chatten, things began to change.
“He started speaking in sentences, asking to go to the toilet, brushing his teeth, even making his own sandwiches,” Jenni says. “Now, he’s talking non-stop! He’s so independent. It feels like we’re looking at a completely different child.”
“He started speaking in sentences, asking to go to the toilet, brushing his teeth, even making his own sandwiches,” Jenni says. “Now, he’s talking non-stop! He’s so independent. It feels like we’re looking at a completely different child.”
“He started speaking in sentences, asking to go to the toilet, brushing his teeth, even making his own sandwiches,” Jenni says. “Now, he’s talking non-stop! He’s so independent. It feels like we’re looking at a completely different child.”
This term, Harrison will be starting at Columbus School in Chelmsford, where he’ll have the chance to build friendships, enjoy birthday parties, and take part in a new community.
Celebrating success at Chatten
Head of School Adam Dean couldn’t be prouder:
“The goal of Chatten is to equip young people with skills and abilities which mean they can access the world in a more meaningful and independent way. That two of our pupils have progressed enough to move on from such specialist support is a huge achievement – and we will all be celebrating alongside their families.”
“The goal of Chatten is to equip young people with skills and abilities which mean they can access the world in a more meaningful and independent way. That two of our pupils have progressed enough to move on from such specialist support is a huge achievement – and we will all be celebrating alongside their families.”
“The goal of Chatten is to equip young people with skills and abilities which mean they can access the world in a more meaningful and independent way. That two of our pupils have progressed enough to move on from such specialist support is a huge achievement – and we will all be celebrating alongside their families.”
For both Harrisons and their parents, this September isn’t just the start of a new school term – it’s the beginning of a brighter, more independent future than they ever imagined possible.
???? Support for Families in Essex
If you’d like to find out more about SEND support and specialist education in Essex, visit Essex Local Offer for information on schools, services, and resources for families.
Click here to visit the Chatten Free School Website.
