- Reviews / Testimonials -

I have had the pleasure to work with the team at The Lady Byron School for a number of years. They are incredibly supportive and solution focused with the young people they work with and the parents and professional colleagues from referring schools. They all have a significant amount of experience working with students with autism and the impact they make is incredible. I have also witnessed the positive outcomes from the students that have recently transitioned to this school. The bespoke, person centered curriculum offers students the opportunity to re-engage in education and reach their full potential. Thank you for all your support, guidance and advice.

I walk my dog regularly along Leicester Road in Fleckney, and recently saw something really quite special. A group of people walking towards the sports centre having such a laugh, nothing unusual in that, but when I realised that the tall blond girl and tall blond chap were members of staff escorting their students I was just so in awe at how totally engaged their students were with them. I previously worked for a charity that supported people with varying needs, so know how hard it can be to engage at times. But this was like a group of old friends walking along just chatting and laughing about everything and nothing. Utterly wonderful to observe. I see the same group most Tuesdays and always give a nod on my way past.

Just seen the review by Alex, and been meaning to do the same thing! I’ve seen the same group on my dog walks! And agree with everything he said, the education system gets a bad name at times, but seeing this group and the fun they all seem to have brightens my day.

In September 2021 our daughter, who had been diagnosed with Autism three years ago, was due to move on to secondary school from her highly supportive, ‘Outstanding’ primary school. We were concerned that mainstream provision would not be able to meet her needs should the LA fail to approve specialist secondary education. After a long battle with an overstretched system, we were able to secure a place at LBS where she finally began transitioning for two hours a day in November. In December she started attending full time and we immediately noticed a real improvement in her emotional wellbeing and a significant reduction in her anxiety. Like all of the parents who’s children have remained at LBS beyond the first few weeks of its inception, we are extremely pleased and relieved that school is working out for her. She is studying Maths and English in small groups with children she gets along with and is producing some incredible work during her weekly sessions at Soft Touch Arts which she loves. All of the pupils are also studying for ASDAN qualifications which, whilst not widely recognised within mainstream education, provide an excellent opportunity for young people to learn and achieve in an un-pressured way which would be difficult if not impossible in a traditional environment. In fact ASDAN offer certain courses up to Level 3 which are an official AS Level equivalent. I have developed and delivered similar vocational BTEC courses from Level 1 to Level 4 in FE Colleges and specialist provision for SEN learners for 25 years and can assure you this is a valuable learning pathway for many students who eventually go on to university. Our daughter has made several great new friends at LBS who she enjoys seeing both in and out of school and we couldn’t be happier with how she is progressing both personally and academically. They have been fully supportive since day one, creating individualised timetables and keeping us updated on how she is progressing via emails, phone calls and Parents Meetings. When issues did arise around her occasional autistic meltdowns whilst transitioning (which had been a daily occurrence at primary school), they contacted us to seek advice on how we would like them to manage things. Our suggestions plus their creative approach – making a lily pad for her to ‘escape’ to when feeling overwhelmed – have proved incredibly effective and she has rarely had an episode since Christmas. Several people have come to me for advice about negative reports they have heard about LBS including the school’s inability to meet the needs of more academically able children. These are totally unfounded. Our daughter is 11 and had a reading age of 15 when she was last assessed two years ago. She is highly intelligent and articulate and has an extensive general knowledge. She is thriving in this environment and I’m sure will continue to do so as she gradually builds up to making her eventual GCSE choices. If you are considering sending your child here it’s simple; read the recent ‘Good’ OFSTED Report then arrange a visit to see for yourself what a great learning environment this is and how happy and engaged the school’s pupils are.

The school is lead by a great team and the recent ofsted report reaffirms the great environment being provided to all . Well done to you all, especially with setting a new school and its ongoing operation with challenges of the pandemic. Best wishes for the future.

I’d really like to take this opportunity to congratulate Irinder, Caroline and team on their first Ofsted inspection rating of Good – a truly phenomenal achievement. I’d like to congratulate you on all of your amazing accomplishments now and in the future. It’s not easy to start a school – it takes true dedication, effort, energy, hard work but most of all a passion to do good; a passion of caring and a passion to show this wonderful group of children, their families and the community that it is possible to find a better way. In my 30 years of working within the field of autism I have never met two most dedicated, passionate and professional individuals. They ooze a love for these children, they strive to constantly improve outcomes, they are looking to help support and get our young people back into society but also to continue the drive to improve society and the way it interacts with our children. I am now the Director of Special Educational Needs in Abu Dhabi, UAE 🇦🇪, having previously worked in Leicestershire for 15 years. I’d snap up and bring the concept of Lady Byron School in a heartbeat. You only have to see the website to understand their mantra. Whether you are a local resident, a local business owner, someone from a local school, a prospective parent or someone else – get behind what they are doing at Lady Byron – help them out but continue the passion. Well done – I watch with pleasure from afar. Keep up the hard work. Perhaps we can build links to the UAE 🇦🇪? Thanks for what you are doing for our kids and all of your hard work. Kevin

An excellent, values lead school. The staff are outstandingly dedicated and person centred. Their safeguarding policies and procedures are robust and give a sense of confidence in their capabilities as practitioners. I observed that staff can change their communication methods to meet the need of each learner. I will continue to watch the progress of this wonderful establishment with interest. Well done to all involved

In September 2021 our daughter, who had been diagnosed with Autism three years ago, was due to move on to secondary school from her highly supportive, ‘Outstanding’ primary school. We were concerned that mainstream provision would not be able to meet her needs should the LA fail to approve specialist secondary education. After a long battle with an overstretched system, we were able to secure a place at LBS where she finally began transitioning for two hours a day in November. In December she started attending full time and we immediately noticed a real improvement in her emotional wellbeing and a significant reduction in her anxiety. Like all of the parents who’s children have remained at LBS beyond the first few weeks of its inception, we are extremely pleased and relieved that school is working out for her. She is studying Maths and English in small groups with children she gets along with and is producing some incredible work during her weekly sessions at Soft Touch Arts which she loves. All of the pupils are also studying for ASDAN qualifications which, whilst not widely recognised within mainstream education, provide an excellent opportunity for young people to learn and achieve in an un-pressured way which would be difficult if not impossible in a traditional environment. In fact ASDAN offer certain courses up to Level 3 which are an official AS Level equivalent. I have developed and delivered similar vocational BTEC courses from Level 1 to Level 4 in FE Colleges and specialist provision for SEN learners for 25 years and can assure you this is a valuable learning pathway for many students who eventually go on to university. Our daughter has made several great new friends at LBS who she enjoys seeing both in and out of school and we couldn’t be happier with how she is progressing both personally and academically. They have been fully supportive since day one, creating individualised timetables and keeping us updated on how she is progressing via emails, phone calls and Parents Meetings. When issues did arise around her occasional autistic meltdowns whilst transitioning (which had been a daily occurrence at primary school), they contacted us to seek advice on how we would like them to manage things. Our suggestions plus their creative approach – making a lily pad for her to ‘escape’ to when feeling overwhelmed – have proved incredibly effective and she has rarely had an episode since Christmas. Several people have come to me for advice about negative reports they have heard about LBS including the school’s inability to meet the needs of more academically able children. These are totally unfounded. Our daughter is 11 and had a reading age of 15 when she was last assessed two years ago. She is highly intelligent and articulate and has an extensive general knowledge. She is thriving in this environment and I’m sure will continue to do so as she gradually builds up to making her eventual GCSE choices. If you are considering sending your child here it’s simple; read the recent ‘Good’ OFSTED Report then arrange a visit to see for yourself what a great learning environment this is and how happy and engaged the school’s pupils are.