(Last reviewed July 2026)

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Our Vision

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Our vision is to create a welcoming, inclusive and neuro-affirming environment where all children and young people are respected, understood and empowered to thrive. We are committed to providing high-quality, individualised support that celebrates every child's strengths, promotes wellbeing and enables them to develop confidence, independence and meaningful connections.

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Our Values

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Person-Centred

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Every child is unique. We recognise and respect individual strengths, interests, communication styles and sensory needs, ensuring that each child is supported in a way that reflects who they are.

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Inclusion and Belonging

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We believe every child deserves to feel valued, accepted and included. We foster an environment where diversity is celebrated, differences are embraced and families feel welcomed, supported and listened to.

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Collaboration

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We work in partnership with families, staff, volunteers and professionals, recognising that positive outcomes are achieved through trust, open communication and shared decision-making.

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Compassion

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We provide support with empathy, kindness and understanding, creating safe spaces where children can be themselves without judgement or expectation to mask their identity.

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Excellence

We are committed to continuous learning and reflective practice. Through ongoing training, evidence-informed approaches and regular evaluation of our services, we strive to provide the highest standards of care and support.

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Our Commitment

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We continually review and develop our practice to ensure it reflects current neuro-affirming approaches and best practice in supporting all children and their families, including those from different cultures and backgrounds. We value lived experience and believe that listening to our children's and young people's voices helps shape services that are meaningful, respectful and responsive to individual needs.

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Our aim is to provide an environment where children feel safe, understood and empowered to explore, learn and develop at their own pace. We recognise that every child has their own journey, and we are committed to nurturing confidence, promoting independence and celebrating achievements of every size.

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Our Service

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We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, person-centred support that meets the diverse needs of children and young people. Our team is committed to building positive relationships with families and the wider community, ensuring that every child receives compassionate, consistent and individualised support.

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By creating environments that are accessible, accepting and responsive, we aspire to make our service a place where all children can flourish, families feel supported, and everyone experiences a genuine sense of belonging.

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We have nearly 45 years’ experience in providing childcare and education for children with additional needs and pride ourselves in recruiting and retaining a wonderful team to look after your little ones.

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AUthenTISM was established by Sharon Lyttle and Elizabeth Nolan in 2026 and is based in Ballygomartin Baptist Church Hall.