Ashley Park School, Walton-on-Thames – part of Options Autism, a leading provider of education for autistic children and young people, part of Outcomes First Group – has a very remarkable Teaching Assistant (TA) James, who has a deep understanding of exactly where the students at the school are coming from, as he’s also neurodiverse.
James, who’s worked at the school since it first opened in 2023, has built a special rapport with the students he supports, sharing his own journey to inspire others and raise their aspirations about what the future may hold. Through his story, he shows that autism is not a barrier to success, but a strength that can build resilience and confidence.
James explained, ‘I got my autism diagnosis at age nine – on my birthday, actually. At first, it was a bit tricky for mum, because I’m her first born child, and there’d been no neurodiverse people in my family. I think my neurodiversity made my relationship stronger with my Nana, with her support and protection, and vice-versa when I grew up.’
Primary school had been challenging, but with the diagnosis, James was placed in a specialist setting at 11, which at that time supported students with ‘moderate learning difficulties’.
Describing his experience, James said, ‘It was a mixed bag really, because I wasn’t used to travelling to unfamiliar places. I lived here in Walton-on-Thames, so travelling 3 miles to school every day was a bit different. First off, I started in a minibus, and then I moved house and I was transferred to travelling to school by taxi. There were different subjects than those I had in infants and junior school.
After school, James progressed to college where they had a supported learning unit. We had different options to choose from, like food technology, hairdressing and woodwork. I chose painting and decorating and retail. James worked hard to gain qualifications and completed work experience placements, including at a local hospital. Despite positive feedback and a strong work ethic, permanent paid employment proved elusive.
James explained, ‘One of the things I found hardest is, because of being an autistic individual, most employers weren’t, in the words of that famous Abba song, about to ‘take a chance on me’. I found five different jobs so I’ve been quite lucky. I started off at Saint Peter’s Hospital, then did some work at a sports club in Esher. I did some charity work, and worked for a local housing association, and now I’m here, and I love it.’
James’ current role marks a major milestone. Now in his third year as a TA, Ashley Park is his first paid, permanent job, and one he takes enormous pride in. James is very conscientious towards his responsibilities, arriving at school at 7am for his 8.30 start.
Commenting on his work, James said, ’To be a good TA you need to be kind, friendly, polite and helpful, not only to students but to staff and to yourself too. I love inspiring the next generation, to show that it’s OK to be autistic. When I told one student that I was autistic too, they said – ‘I knew it, you’re one of us.’
‘Last year, I led an assembly on World Autism Awareness Day, and I’m going to be leading another in March. I’ve done talks highlighting famous people on the autism spectrum, both male and female; there were some people the students hadn’t heard of, but also they knew other people, I hadn’t used.’
James also did a presentation for Careers Week, talking about his life, what he had achieved and how everyone can aspire to future success, ‘I really enjoyed it. One student said it was pretty awesome, and that he really wanted to be an architect when he grows up. I said to him – I look forward to seeing your creations one day, so if we hear his name more than we hear about Christopher Wren, we’ll know why! Don’t forget, this is the generation who will someday change the world, and hopefully make it a better place. For example, you could have one student who could be the first person on Mars.’
Denise Heffernan, Assistant Headteacher, said, ‘Ashley Park School is incredibly proud of the progress James has made since joining us in October 2023. Having taught James for three years at college many years ago, it was a genuine pleasure to welcome him back – especially as no one was more surprised than I was when he walked down the path to join our team. James has embraced his role with enthusiasm, and his ability to connect with students on different levels has allowed them to see first-hand a positive and inspiring role model in paid employment.’
For more information about Ashley Park School, please visit: https://www.ashleyparkschool.co.uk/
