The Aurora Group

What The Aurora Group does

The Aurora Group, legally Aurora Care & Education Opco Ltd, is a UK-based specialist provider of education, care, and support services for children, young people, and adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Gloucester, England, the group operates a network of 28 specialist day and residential schools, 2 further education colleges (Aurora Boveridge College and Aurora Foxes), 2 residential care homes (Aurora Meldreth Manor and Orchard Manor), an associated alternative provision organization (R.E.A.L. Education), and a training hotel (Foxes Hotel). Services span autism spectrum conditions, ADHD, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, moderate to severe learning difficulties, speech/language/communication needs, and profound and multiple learning difficulties for ages 5-30. Differentiated technology assets include 4D Immersive Sensory Rooms with projected interactive environments, scent and wind effects, and over 100 interactive learning experiences, alongside infant simulators used in the Child Development curriculum.

The group is funded primarily through Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) commissioned by UK local authorities, with additional coordination from NHS partners. Go-to-market is sales-led, executed through regional Placement Managers supporting families through the EHCP admission process and four regional Business Development Managers covering North West, North East, South West, and South East who engage directly with local authorities and NHS commissioners. The operating model relies on small class sizes, trauma-informed teaching, in-house therapy teams (occupational therapy, speech and language therapy), and credentialed facilities such as Ofsted-rated Outstanding and Good schools, B Corp certification, and National Autistic Society Advanced accreditation. Revenue, ownership structure, and cap table are not publicly disclosed; the entity operates as a privately held UK limited company with Kelvin Donald as CEO.

Name

The Aurora Group

Legal name

Aurora Care & Education Opco Ltd

Website

https://theauroragroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Aurora Group operates a network of 28 specialist SEND schools, 2 further education colleges, and 2 residential homes across England, serving children, young people, and adults with autism, SEMH, learning disabilities, and complex care needs, funded primarily via local authority EHCPs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Education and Care Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism (ASD) Support Childcare (HSAAAIAA), Autism Spectrum (ASD) Academic & Social-Communication Support Tutoring (EDANAFAD)

Keywords

• Special needs education
• Residential care services
• Further education colleges
• Autism specialist schools
• Therapeutic SEND provision

Headquarters

HQ city

Gloucester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Education and Care Services: Specialist education, care and support services for children, young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Services include day schools, residential schools, colleges, and residential care homes. Funding primarily through Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) coordinated with local authorities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Aurora Group operates a network of specialist day schools, further education colleges, and residential homes delivering academic, therapeutic and pastoral provision for children, young people and adults (aged 5-25) with SEND including autism, ADHD, SEMH, MLD, SLCN, and complex health needs. Placements are primarily funded through Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) commissioned by local authorities, with direct family enquiry pathways and NHS coordination also supported.

Product overview

The Aurora Group operates a comprehensive network of specialist educational and care services for children, young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The portfolio includes 28 specialist schools (ranging from primary to secondary education for ages 5-19), 2 specialist further education colleges (Aurora Boveridge College and Aurora Foxes), 2 residential homes (Aurora Meldreth Manor Children's Home and Aurora Orchard Manor Residential Home), and associated services including R.E.A.L. Education and the Foxes Hotel training facility. Services cover autism spectrum conditions, social/emotional/mental health needs, learning difficulties, speech/language/communication needs, ADHD, and complex care needs. The organization focuses on providing individualized academic, therapeutic, and pastoral support through small class sizes, trauma-informed teaching, and specialist facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• R.E.A.L. Education: Related specialist education service operated by the group

Products and services

• Aurora Specialist Day Schools Network of 26+ specialist day schools across England delivering academic and therapeutic provision for children and young people aged 5-19 with autism spectrum conditions, ADHD, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate to severe learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, and complex needs. Placements are commissioned by local authorities via EHCPs and supported by therapy teams and small class sizes.
• Aurora Specialist Further Education Colleges Aurora Boveridge College (Dorset) and Aurora Foxes (Somerset) provide specialist further education for young people aged 16-25 with autism, SEMH needs and learning disabilities, including vocational hospitality training delivered through the Foxes Hotel training facility.
• Aurora Residential Homes Aurora Meldreth Manor Children's Home provides residential care for children and young people with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. Aurora Orchard Manor Residential Home supports young adults aged 18-30 with multiple complex needs through transition from education into adulthood.
• R.E.A.L. Education Associated specialist education organisation within The Aurora Group providing additional SEND educational services.
• Foxes Hotel Training Facility Real-world hospitality training facility operated by Aurora Foxes college, providing vocational work experience for students aged 16-25 with learning disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple 'Outstanding' and 'Good' Ofsted ratings across schools
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Autistic Society: UK charity that both accredits SEND providers (including Aurora's NAS Advanced Award at Aurora Hanley) and operates a small number of specialist education and adult services. Adjacent/ecosystem participant rather than direct commercial competitor.
• Ambitious about Autism: UK charity running specialist schools and colleges (e.g., TreeHouse, Ambitious College) for autistic pupils. Not a direct shareholder competitor but operates in the same EHCP-funded SEND school and college segment.
• Engage Partnership (Engage Care): UK SEND staffing, therapy and placement provider that supports local authorities, schools and families with specialist SEND recruitment and care services. Adjacent supplier/distributor rather than direct school operator.

Direct peers

• Cambian Group: UK provider of specialist education and residential care for children and adults with autism, learning disabilities and complex needs, now part of the Priory Group. Direct competitor on specialist SEND placement commissioning.
• Outcomes First Group: Major UK operator of specialist schools, colleges and residential services for children and adults with autism, SEMH and complex needs. Competes head-to-head with Aurora for EHCP-funded placements across England.
• Witherslack Group: One of the largest UK specialist education and care providers for children with SEND, operating residential schools, day schools and children's homes across England. Closest direct peer to Aurora in scale, model (EHCP-funded placements), and SEND taxonomy.
• Acorn Care and Education: UK provider of specialist day schools, residential schools and homes for children with autism, SEMH and complex learning needs funded via EHCPs. Direct competitor to Aurora at regional placement level.
• The Hesley Group: UK specialist education, residential care and adult services provider focused on autism, learning disabilities and complex needs. Comparable model mixing schools, residential homes and adult services, like Aurora.

Broad incumbents

• Priory Group: Large diversified UK operator (including Priory Education Services) running specialist schools, children's homes and adult care for SEND and mental health populations. Broader portfolio than Aurora but directly overlaps on education and residential SEND.

Emerging players

• Kedleston Group: Smaller UK operator of independent specialist schools and children's homes for pupils with SEMH, autism and ADHD. Comparable service mix to Aurora at a smaller scale; partial overlap on commissioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theauroragroup4155
• Facebookfacebook.com/the-aurora-group-774068379403093
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-aurora-group-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_auroragroup
• Xx.com/the_auroragroup

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries33 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Aurora Group