Ysgol Bryn Derw is the only dedicated ASD Special School in the Gwent (EAS) region. We opened in September 2017 following a refurbishment of the old Gaer Infant School building. In February 2020 a refurbished building on the Melfort Road site for older Secondary age pupils was opened with a living skills kitchen and two additional classrooms. In June 2022 we expanded onto a second site following the refurbishment of the old Kimberley Nursery School to create a specialist lower primary ASD setting. In September 2025 we expand onto a third site following the refurbishment of the old Caerleon Lodge Infants/Ysgol Nant Gwenlli site to create an upper primary specialist ASD setting. With this expansion, the Gaer site has become a secondary/tertiary provision.

The name of the school translates as Oak Hill, and we see our mission as to help pupils to overcome their individual obstacles to learning (the hill) and to help our pupils flourish into well-equipped adults who can function successfully in their community (the growing oak tree).

Teaching & Learning at Ysgol Bryn Derw begins from the acknowledgement that ASD is a lifelong developmental condition and so we focus on a supportive approach, which builds on the strengths of children with ASD (e.g. responding well to routine, structure and predictability).

We have Unconditional Positive Regard for all pupils and design our environment, interactions and learning objectives around overcoming and eliminating the barriers to socially constructive behaviour. Approaches develop pupil skills in Communication, Social Interaction, Flexibility of Thought and Emotional Regulation that will allow all pupils to develop the skills and moral values which will enable them to live in harmony with all members of society.

At YBD we have a person centred provision which is adapted to the needs of individual learners. All pupils at YBD receive the same standard offer. Some pupils will receive targeted support. All pupils we be places on one of three pathways, these are designed to meet a range of different needs and developmental stages.