As one of the two schools in England and Wales to operate under the national banner of Autism Initiatives, The Haven School in the North Wales county of Flintshire has been supporting learners with autism for more than a decade. Proudly serving as a specialist provision for 11–19-yearolds, this is a school that is as flexible as it is supportive, with a track record for nurturing learners of all ages and capabilities to achieve their full potential – regardless of where they sit on the spectrum. Offering an ‘education for life’ for autistic children and young adults across the region, The Haven School delivers a person-centred learning experience for its pupils, one that builds upon their strengths and helps them to improve in the areas in which they are weaker. The Haven prioritises the development of communication skills above almost all else, and it is for this reason that it also delivers a number of activities across the wider community alongside its classroom-based learning, offering its students the best of both worlds. Headteacher Karen Burt runs the school and oversees many of the initiatives The Haven puts in place, and it is largely thanks to her efforts that the school’s curriculum is one that is constantly developing, reflecting Autism Initiatives’ overarching aim of offering services that reflect the changing needs of people with autism as they grow and evolve. This inclusive curriculum is based around positive behaviour support, and staff utilise autism-appropriate teaching methods to ensure the environment is calm and structured. Providing support, care, stability, and security are thus the core aims of The Haven School, and, as touched on above, these also align with the wider mission of Autism Initiatives when it comes to helping young people thrive in education, before making the difficult transition into adulthood. ‘Growing up’ is difficult for everyone, particularly for those with autism, as change is something that these individuals usually struggle with much more than most. This makes big life transitions in particular sources of stress, frustration, and anxiety. This was something recognised all the way back in 1972 by Founder Pat Minshuall, who established Autism Initiatives on the back of her concern for the education of her autistic son, Peter. Supported by people from across the UK, as well as then Prime Minister Harold Wilson, Pat first set up the Peterhouse School in Southport in 1973, before continuing this amazing work as Peter’s needs altered. Today, Pat’s legacy is reflected in the thousands of lives Autism Initiatives has changed, through such endeavours as The Haven School. Recognising that it is an integral part of something much bigger, The Haven School prides itself on embodying such values as excellence, flexibility, communication, accountability, equality, diversity, partnership, and accountability. “We don’t approach an autism diagnosis from a deficit point of view”, explains Headteacher Karen Burt. “From each individual’s starting point – through trust, reflection, and tailored support – we empower them to develop confidence, resilience, and self-awareness.” Despite the recent increases in both awareness and understanding of autism and other such neurodevelopmental disorders, the teams at both The Haven School and Autism Initiatives have noted a similar rise in levels of anxiety and social difficulties for autistic young people, many of whom struggle to fit in and achieve that sense of belonging necessary to feel content. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated this, and schools and other such institutions are only just starting to recover from what has been an incredibly challenging few years. The result is that Autism Initiatives – which relies solely on charity to establish the life-changing services it does across the UK, Ireland, and the Isle of Man – needs the support of generous individuals and organisations now more than ever. With a more than 50-year legacy of working positively and constructively with autistic people to help them overcome the challenges they face and thrive; this is a charity worthy of acclaim. The Haven School is equally special, and we urge our readers to follow the links below to find out more about both. Contact: Karen Burt Company: The Haven / Autism Initiatives Web Address: https://www.thehavenschool.co.uk/ https://autisminitiatives.org/ For more than 50 years, Autism Initiatives has been working closely with autistic people to improve its understanding of the condition and provide help and support to those individuals living with it, as well as those closest to them. The services provided by this supportive registered charity are available for adults, businesses, and young people, and it is the latter of these in particular we have chosen to focus on, especially concerning Autism Initiatives’ remarkable specialised school, The Haven. Most Supportive Autism Services Charity 2024 Nov24016
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