Autism Alternative Education Provision
Learn
Achieve
Believe
At LAB, we offer specialist alternative education provision working with autistic and neurodivergent 13+ year olds, some of whom may have been out of the education system for some time, and engage them into life learning through the arts and more. Using a combination of therapeutic, academic, creative and physical education, LAB aims to significantly change the lives of our learners and their families, to rise above the negative experiences they’ve endured, to start a path to a better life.
LAB will help learners to re-engage socially, inspiring young people to become lifelong learners, reducing anxiety and overwhelm and improving outcomes. Most importantly we build in them a confidence in their own ability to
Learn to their potential, Achieve their goals and Believe in themselves.
Our services
The ‘on-site’ stream
LAB offers specialist provision working with autistic and neurodivergent 13+ year olds, some of whom may have been out of the education system for some time, and engage them into ‘life’ learning through the arts and more. The LAB will help to re-engage them socially - inspiring them to become lifelong learners, reducing anxiety and overwhelm and improving outcomes.
The ‘off-site’ stream
Autism Champions (AC) offers in-reach support to mainstream and special schools from EYFS to KS4 to reduce school exclusions.
This would be direct work with learners or staff, training and/or strategy/policy development. Our practitioners are placed in schools and work closely with school colleagues to identify students who may need support and help to enhance the school's response to managing mental health, behaviour, and safeguarding. Placements can be for half, full, or multiple days across a term or academic year, so schools can refer pupils who need support on an 'as-needed' basis.
AC provides timetabled interventions such as staff/pupil mentoring and coaching, 1:1 or group work as well as the option for 'drop-in' sessions at break times /lunch times. These provide an opportunity for our staff to become an integral part of the school's pastoral team, and be available to respond to emerging issues and needs. Our team works cohesively with school colleagues to act as a team around the child.
Located in Botley, Oxford
A dedicated physical space
LAB is a safe, warm, inviting environment. A space that works for those autistic young people and adults who access it. We adapt to the emotional, social and learning requirements of each person so as they can learn in a way that works for them.
Our cohort, and in turn their families, get to see what they are truly capable of when their environment meets their needs. Our space and how we work, offers educators and other professionals a chance to see actually autistic led provision in practice.
Our mission,
vision & values
We believe that the autistic and neurodivergent educational experience needs to be moulded to meet the individual need - that’s what we do.
We are working to reduce the prevalence of primary and secondary age, autistic and neurodivergent young people, being out of education due to their mental health. WE are working across Oxfordshire to enable schools to be more adaptable to, and aware of, the needs of their autistic and ND learners and staff.
We believe that one size does not fit all. We are committed to providing a high quality support service delivered by our team of dedicated autistic and neurodivergent practitioners who are committed to our child centred approach. We enable autistic children and young people to access the support they require to engage with education, develop work skills, life skills and study for qualifications. We want all autistic people to have the opportunity thrive in school, college, at home in the wider community and in later life.
Vision
An education system that supports the needs and rights of autistic and neurodivergent people to learn in ways authentic to their unique identities.
To Learn, Achieve, and Believe in themselves - LAB.
Mission
Provide quality, bespoke autism focused alternative education provision.
Reduce autism related educational exclusions and psychiatric admissions across Oxfordshire and beyond.
Work for true, actionable change in all autism education provision, and be advocates for systemic change.
Values
Honesty - being mindful that we are here to get it right, not be right.
Humility - appreciating, admiring and respecting the value of a diverse autistic cohort without losing sight of the challenges they will face in education and beyond.
Bravery - challenging unconscious bias and systemic barriers faced by autistic people in education.
Testimonials
“I came to the Power to Parent course with no expectations, having done various general and autism specific parenting courses in the past and feeling like I had tried and failed with pretty much everything and nothing would ever change. This course has blown me away - you have framed things in a completely different way, which is actually useful and the techniques are approachable, manageable and effective. I now have hope that things can change, it’s not too late, there is hope. You’ve knocked it out of the park!”
“The course gave me much greater confidence in my parenting abilities. I realised how much I was already doing to meet my son’s needs. The course leaders helped me be kinder to myself and stop feeling like my son’s problems were my fault. They gave me the confidence to tell the school what worked for my son.”
“The course was the first place I found where I felt truly listened to and supported as a mum. Both by the course leaders and by the other parents in the group. The strategies for improving communication and connection within our family led us to take a more holistic approach to adapting our environment so all of our needs are better met. There is now greater understanding and acceptance between all of us in our family. It has given us the confidence to make some big life changes.”
“The course gave “lots of doable practical tools that can be utilised immediately, and that are specific to my child, and took into consideration my family’s circumstances. Felt like my child was advocated for, and I was part of the team on his side (not blamed and shamed!).”
“The course was very positive and empowering - it didn’t shy away from the challenges of parenting an autistic child in our society including as a neuro divergent parent but the emphasis was on the child’s integrity and dignity - so much of the time people just focus on all the things that are wrong with our beautiful children and that is so relentless and hard to bear.”
“Not only did the course help with parenting my child, it also offered much needed support and a safe space to discuss the concerns without being judged.”
“I’ve learned so much more about how my son’s brain works, then I have in the 6 years of raising him...and it is fascinating!”
Get in touch
Unit 36
Curtis industrial estate
Oxford
OX2 2GB
