It was a very mindful insight which we only endured for ten minutes and had the luxury of stepping away from! It’s made me realise some of the many difficulties that autistic people may face on a day-to-day basis and has helped me understand the challenges of following instructions, feeling overstimulated and the difficulties carrying out what most people would call simple tasks. The whole experience has been a real eye opener.

This was so informative, and so glad I had the opportunity to get insight to what autism might be like. Definitely helped broaden my understanding of what there day is like on a continuous basis.

I had no idea how this would work but I now have some appreciation of the sensory issues faced by young people in school and how the background noise must affect their ability to learn and function in a classroom environment.

I found it very realistic and had a child with autism copes and seeing and hearing through the eyes of a child with autism I found it very moving and a better understanding

Extremely enlightening! Not a pleasant experience but what a great opportunity to experience a few moments of the challenges children with ASD feel. Going forward, it will make me think deeper about how to further support.

Everyone found it rewarding but experiences varied.

Some missed the task, others struggled with seating.

Encouraged staff to reflect on classroom practices.

Year 5 and 6 teachers used it as a springboard for class discussions on sensory differences.

Staff had their eyes opened to how hard everyday tasks can be. Many felt overwhelmed and emotionally moved. Essential experience for our neurodiverse school community.

The experience was amazing. It has been so impactful already and has prompted so much discussion across all staff involved in the experience already. The Head and I are now jointly discussing how we move forward having had this training and what impact we would like to see across our whole setting. A fabulous experience to give just a snapshot of some of the barriers our students are facing.

This was an immensely eye-opening session. It gave our teachers and teaching assistants a real first-hand idea of the daily sensory processing difficulties faced by people on the autism spectrum and the challenges children in our care experience as a result.

Hill Top Academy were extremely lucky to have the Autism Virtual reality experience this half term. This experience allowed our teachers, LSA's and a few of our lunchtime supervisors to spend 15 minutes in the shoes of some of our SEND learners understanding the challenges they may face daily. This impacted everyone who participated positively as we reflected on our we can support and ensure learners with Autism are better supported and understood. We would highly recommend this VR experience to build insight and develop professionals in inclusive practice.

I found the overall experience very helpful especially the de-brief after the experience that explained why I displayed certain behaviours during it. I felt I really benefited from the experience with a gained knowledge of autism and behaviours.

Love the experience. I always try explaining to myself and others. It wasn't like looking through VR glasses and putting life as they see it into boxes and if everything that happens in the day that doesn't fit into the boxes. This could cause stress and anxiety

It was a great experience. I wish it had lasted longer to give me an increased knowledge.

Absolutely amazing.

The Autism Reality Experience training was an insightful and valuable experience. It provided a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals on the autism spectrum and helped in fostering a more empathetic and supportive approach to their needs.

I found the interactive elements particularly engaging, as they allowed us to experience firsthand some of the sensory and communication challenges. This has been helpful in reflecting on how to better tailor my interactions and support strategies for students.

All staff thoroughly enjoyed the experience and also thought Stuart who was delivering the session was great.

The experience was excellent as it showed the challenges that our autistic students may have in a school setting. It highlighted the importance of adapting lessons to make sure that students are able to learn. The discussion on the range of senses such as vestibular and proprioception was also really interesting and made us aware of differences that our students may have that we may not have even considered or been aware of.

Athersley South Primary School Barnsley.

Fantastic feedback from everyone that went in though and said it was a really, eye opening experience and made them think about their practice a lot.

Monteney Primary School

We found the experience really helpful. Staff who went on the bus found it really useful to see things from an Autistic point of view and realise how challenging some things can be for our Autistic pupils. A member of our midday team said it was the best training she had ever been on and really helped her to understand the experience of autistic pupils.

The Autism Reality Experience training was an insightful and valuable experience. It provided a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals on the autism spectrum and helped in fostering a more empathetic and supportive approach to their needs.

I found the interactive elements particularly engaging, as they allowed us to experience firsthand some of the sensory and communication challenges. This has been helpful in reflecting on how to better tailor my interactions and support strategies for students.

All staff thoroughly enjoyed the experience and also thought Stuart who was delivering the session was great.

It was a great experience. I wish it had lasted longer to give me an increased knowledge.
Absolutely amazing.

Love the experience. I always try explaining to myself and others. It wasn't like looking through VR glasses and putting life as they see it into boxes and if everything that happens in the day that doesn't fit into the boxes . This could cause stress and anxiety

I found the overall experience very helpful especially the de-brief after the experience that explained why I displayed certain behaviours during it. I felt I really benefited from the experience with a gained knowledge of autism and behaviours.

It was truly amazing and I think all teaching staff should experience this training. What an eye opener. It has most definitely changed my view on teaching and how to adapt it to ASC learners.

A huge thank you once again.

Hill Top Academy were extremely lucky to have the Autism Virtual reality experience this half term. This experience allowed our teachers, LSA's and a few of our lunchtime supervisors to spend 15 minutes in the shoes of some of our SEND learners understanding the challenges they may face daily. This impacted everyone who participated positively as we reflected on our we can support and ensure learners with Autism are better supported and understood. We would highly recommend this VR experience to build insight and develop professionals in inclusive practice.

This was an immensely eye-opening session. It gave our teachers and teaching assistants a real first-hand idea of the daily sensory processing difficulties faced by people on the autism spectrum and the challenges children in our care experience as a result.

The experience was amazing. It’s been so impactful already and has prompted so much discussion across all staff involved in the experience already. The Head and I are now jointly discussing how we move forward having had this training and what impact we’d like to see across our whole setting. A fabulous experience to give just a snapshot of some of the barriers our students are facing.

The experience gave them a real insight into what it can feel like to be an autistic child in school. Feedback from staff has been inspiring, they shared how their perspectives have shifted and how they now feel better equipped to support autistic pupils.

They plan to use what they learned to create environments that are less overstimulating, helping children remain regulated and able to focus on one thing at a time. This will make a real difference in ensuring our classrooms are inclusive and supportive.

On behalf of our staff and parents at Chigwell Row, I want to extend our deepest gratitude for the session provided by the Autism Reality Bus.

The feedback from our diverse group—including teaching staff and families—has been overwhelmingly positive. The simulation offered a detailed and sobering insight into sensory overload that left many of us deeply moved. It was a powerful reminder of the resilience our young people show every day.

This training was more than just informative; it was transformative. Our staff and parents already provide dedicated, high-level support to our children, but the Autism Reality Bus offered a unique sensory insight that has further enriched our understanding. We will take these emotional and detailed reflections directly into our daily practice, ensuring our existing support systems are even more responsive to the sensory realities our children face. 

Thank you for such a well-rounded and essential experience.

Lisa Anstey 

Headteacher