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Local school principal up for national award

Thu 04 Feb 2016
The principal of an autism school in Southall has been shortlisted for a national autism award, in recognition of the difference she’s made to local children and young people on the autism spectrum.

Chloe Phillips has worked at the National Autistic Society’s (NAS) Sybil Elgar School for almost 27 years, including over 20 as Principal, and is currently helping mark the school’s 50th anniversary.

Chloe is one of three finalists for the Award for Achievement by an Individual Education Professional in the Autism Professionals Awards 2016, sponsored by Axcis Education Recruitment. She was shortlisted, alongside two others, by an independent panel of 11 autism experts who judged them on their innovation, creativity, impact and sustainability.

The awards are run by the NAS and first took place in 2013 as a way for the autism community to come together to recognise the individuals and teams doing great work that can inspire others in the field and spread knowledge and understanding of autism. Since then, it has become an annual event, bringing together experts to select the autism pioneers and leading organisations having real positive impact on the lives of autistic people and their families living in the UK now.

The school was the first autism-specific school to open in the UK and the judges commended Chloe for maintaining its position at the forefront of teaching autistic children and young people. They said she was caring, innovative and hardworking. Paul Kavanagh, the school’s deputy principal, added that Chloe is "like a master chess player, always thinking five moves ahead".

Chloe Phillips, Principal of the NAS Sybil Elgar School, said: "This is a huge honour and one that I want to share with the brilliant team we have at the school and Children’s Home."

"Sybil Elgar was the first autism-specific school in the UK and opened at a time when autistic children were often written off and hidden away from society. But, the success of our students shows just how far we’ve come. There’s still a long way to go but it speaks volumes that almost all of our students are well placed to go on to further learning in education, care settings or employment."

"Autism can have a profound impact on an individual and their family, but we see every day how the right help and support can help every student to fulfil their potential."

Carol Povey, Director of the National Autistic Society’s Centre for Autism, said: "The autism community gets together once a year to recognise individuals and services, like Chloe, whose work and tireless efforts make a huge difference to the lives of children and young people on the autism spectrum."

"This year yielded 217 nominations in total - our biggest yet. It’s heartening to be able to recognise more people and services year on year, who are creating better lives for those on the autism spectrum."

"I am continually struck by the enormous impact that a knowledgeable and understanding professional can have on an autistic adult or child and their family, and it’s clear that Chloe’s dedication to autism over the past 27 years has made a real difference to hundreds of autistic children and their families."

Chloe is joined by two other nominees in the Award for Achievement by an Individual Education Professional category, sponsored by Axcis Education Recruitment: Adele Devine, a special needs teacher at Portesbery School in Surrey and Luke Beardon, a lecturer and consultant from Sheffield Hallam University.

There are 13 awards in total, including four celebrating individual professional achievement and nine recognising good practice by teams or organisations.

The winner will be revealed at the NAS’ Professional Conference on Tuesday 1 March 2016 in Telford.

Find out more about the NAS Sybil Elgar School here: www.autism.org.uk/sybilelgar

To find out more information about the Awards please visit www.autismprofessionalsawards.org.uk

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