A primary school has highlighted its dedication to inclusivity as it held an event to mark Autism Awareness Day.

Warndon's Oasis Academy hosted the event to promote inclusivity and understanding within the community.

The event, which took place on Thursday, April 11, was put together by Sasha Dewhurst, a speech and language HLTA at the school, Beth Rice, a lunchtime supervisor, and a team of volunteers from Oasis Hub: Warndon.

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Both Ms Dewhurst and Ms Rice have personal connections to autism, with Ms Dewhurst interacting daily with pupils on the autism spectrum while one of Ms Rice’s children, who attend the school, has autism and ADHD.

A variety of raffle items were donated by companies including Tesco in Warndon, Worcester Toys and Games and Spar Droitwich for the event.

Sensory lanyards, handmade by Ms Dewhurst, also featured as a raffle prize.

Ms Rice, who is also a member of the National Autistic Society, said: "Our aim was not only to raise funds, but to shine a light on autism, particularly for our younger pupils.

"As an academy and a community, we are committed to raising awareness and understanding of autism."

The students, dressed in rainbow-coloured clothing, were given a presentation debunking myths about autism, shedding light on the challenges faced by people on the spectrum and showcasing their accomplishments.

Ms Dewhurst said: "It’s important to empower autistic pupils by making sure they feel like they are represented in the school community.

"Normalising differences at a young age for our pupils, paves a way for acceptance and understanding."

The academy will also introduce a 'diversity tree' project as part of its commitment to diversity and tolerance.

Pupils will apply rainbow-themed paint on their fingers and leave their fingerprints on the tree to preserve the memory of this year's Autism Awareness Day.