UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / December 17, 2025 / The Code Zone has gained the National Autistic Society’s Autism Inclusion Award, which recognises mainstream providers who have gone above and beyond in supporting autistic people in sectors including education, healthcare and the justice system, as well as community-based activity groups.

Over the past several months, The Code Zone has worked closely with the National Autistic Society to review, refine and formalise its approach to supporting neurodivergent learners. Through this process, the organisation strengthened existing practices and introduced new measures to ensure that autistic children feel welcomed, understood and able to thrive in its coding clubs. This has included enhanced training for mentors, the introduction of personalised support strategies, and the development of flexible, sensory-considerate environments - both in physical clubs and online.

These improvements build on The Code Zone’s long-standing ethos of child-centred learning, ensuring that every member, regardless of needs, can explore coding in a way that feels comfortable, engaging and empowering. The Code Zone was officially granted accreditation status on 23 October 2025.

Ashley Payne, CEO and Co-founder of The Code Zone, said, “We are incredibly proud to receive the Autism Inclusion Award. At The Code Zone, our mission has always been to create a space where every child feels valued and supported, and working with the National Autistic Society has helped us take that even further. 

“This accreditation recognises the hard work of our team and the importance of designing coding experiences that are genuinely inclusive. We are committed to ensuring autistic children can explore technology with confidence, creativity and joy, and this award is a meaningful milestone in our journey.”

Christine Flintoft-Smith, Head of Autism Accreditation and Projects at the National Autistic Society, said, “We are delighted that the Code Zone has achieved the Autism Inclusion Award. The team should be exceptionally proud of their achievement and commitment towards improving support for autistic people.”

The National Autistic Society’s Autism Accreditation Programme is the UK’s only autism-specific quality assurance programme of support and development for all those providing services to autistic people.

For more information about the Code Zone, visit www.thecodezone.co.uk. For more information about the Autism Specialist Award, visit the National Autistic Society website.