Arden College achieves the Advanced National Autistic Society Award

Arden College, a specialist further education college in Sefton and Lancashire for young people aged 16 – 25 with autism, has achieved the ‘Advanced’ National Autistic Society’s Autism Accreditation Award. This reflects the college’s dedication to providing evidence‑informed, person‑centred education to support autistic young people to achieve their potential.

The accreditation report highlights Arden’s highly skilled and compassionate staff team, its robust therapeutic partnerships, and an educational model that places communication, independence, emotional wellbeing, and sensory regulation at its core. Assessors praised the college’s structured yet flexible environments, its high‑quality Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy provision, and its consistent use of personalised strategies that help learners thrive.

Reflecting on this achievement, Arden College’s Principal, Siobhan Partington, said:

“Arden College is such a special community and I’m so proud to be part of it. Our colleagues, students, their families and our community partners work together to create a place where everybody feels valued, respected and welcome. The National Autistic Society Accreditation Award sets a really good benchmark of high quality provision for autistic people, so to achieve the advanced award on our first attempt is testament to our passion and dedication. I feel so lucky to be part of something so special.”

A culture where progress – no matter how small – is celebrated

Arden’s learners benefit from rich social opportunities, meaningful community engagement, and a curriculum shaped by the Preparing for Adulthood framework. The assessors commended the college for its authentic celebration of student voice, strong family partnership, and a culture where progress – no matter how small – is recognised and valued.

Families of Arden’s learners shared feedback as part of the assessment, speaking highly of the college’s approach to supporting autistic young people:

“We think Arden College deserves so much to receive the NAS Accreditation Award that we know it has been working hard towards. Our son receives support that is highly personalised and with this support he is thriving and achieving goals.”

“My son is now exploring real-world career opportunities, and I don’t believe he could have reached this level of confidence and development in a mainstream setting or even in a general specialist college. He has received autism-specific support throughout the past year, and the progress has been remarkable.”

“Staff at Arden are so understanding of my daughter’s needs and make her feel safe and cared for. They go out of their way to try and accommodate any needs she may have, and are always positive and cheerful. The atmosphere they create makes all the difference in her wanting to learn and this has given her confidence in herself.”

Aspris is incredibly proud of the team at Arden College for this fantastic achievement, and the team’s continued dedication to supporting young people to achieve their potential.