Kibble has been awarded the prestigious Autism Accreditation from the National Autistic Society (NAS), augmenting our commitment to providing a fully inclusive, supportive environment for all.
This is an incredibly proud moment for our charity, who ensures children, young people and adults get tailored care, education, support and opportunities to help them thrive in all aspects of their lives. After months of rigorous self-assessment and reflective practice, Kibble was formally measured across five core areas including: emotional wellbeing, social communication, interaction and relationships, and sensory experiences. Through spending observational time within our houses, schools, and family sessions, Kibble was praised for its strong person-centred, trauma-informed culture, it’s nurturing relationships and emotional support, strong development of independent and life skills, and high quality-communication support.
About the Autism Accreditation Programme
The Autism Accreditation Programme is the UK’s only autism-specific quality assurance scheme, offering specialist support and development for organisations working with autistic people. Achieving accreditation demonstrates a clear commitment to understanding autism and delivering high-quality, evidence-informed practice. It provides a recognised way for services to show they offer effective and meaningful support to autistic children and adults.
With more than 30 years of experience, Autism Accreditation is an internationally recognised standard and remains the longest-running programme of its kind worldwide.
Championing Equality and Inclusion
Across Kibble, a number of the children and young people we support have neurodevelopmental conditions including autism. We therefore take a child-centred, trauma-informed approach across our practice, education, environments, resources and culture to ensure young people are supported, understood, and included in all aspects of life.
The first services within Kibble to receive the NAS accreditation were our children’s houses Ness and Tay at our primary-years campus in Lochwinnoch. Our houses were highly praised for the way in which they champion the children in their care. Social stories play a significant part in helping children to understand and prepare for activities and events in their day. The stories are highly visual, using inclusive language that follows a linear, time-based communication style – now, next, then.Staff use a range of tools to support children, including visual communication methods, social stories, the use of sign-based communication, Makaton and digital systems.
The houses, gardens and forest grounds offer nurturing sensory spaces for the children. Many of the children love running their feet over the tactile rugs, jumping on the trampoline, or walking through the forest and mimicking the bird song. The environment helps children to feel calm, happy and safe. But of course, the thing that makes them feel the safest is the wonderful cuddles from the trusting adults around them.
After Ness and Tay’s successful accreditation, we’re now actively going through the accreditation programme across further service “clusters” including education, and further children’s houses including intensive support and secure care services. We’re on target to achieve the next phase of our organisation-wide accreditation by summer 2026. This is a key milestone for Kibble, and we look forward to continuing to shape systems and practice that champion the needs, rights and voices of all young people.