We are delighted that Helen Allison School has achieved the Beacon Award for exceptional work in sharing their knowledge and understanding of autism good practice, to educate, guide and inspire others beyond their setting. 

The Beacon Award is given to schools and services which have already achieved Advanced status in our charity’s Autism Specialist Award, for specialist providers in sectors including education.

Helen Allison School has been supporting autistic children and young people for more than 50 years, providing a high-quality education that helps each child reach their full potential.

A panel of independent experts in the field highlighted areas of strength and innovation at Helen Allison School, including: the involvement of autistic young people in their local community; sharing practice such as yoga sessions with parents; and support for siblings. 

Adam Wadey, Principal of Helen Allison School, said: "It is a truly wonderful achievement for us as a school to attain the Beacon Award. I am always incredibly proud of all the hard work the staff do every day to ensure our pupils receive the best education. Our staff are dedicated in providing autism support to our pupils, parents and local community. We are all thrilled to have been acknowledged for the work we do at the Helen Alison School." 

Joshua Fitzgerald, Director of Education and Children’s Services at the National Autistic Society, said: "We are delighted that Helen Allison School has earned the Beacon Award. We are immensely proud of all our staff for their incredible hard work and dedication to our pupils. We will continue to do all we can to support autistic children and young people to thrive at school." 

Our charity’s Autism Accreditation programme is the UK’s only autism-specific quality assurance programme of support and development for those providing services to autistic people. Achieving accreditation proves that an organisation is committed to understanding autism, setting the standard for autism practice and offering excellent support to autistic children and adults. 

Further information 

• Read more about the Autism Specialist Award. 
• Find out more about our schools. 
• Visit the Helen Allison School website.