What is ABA?

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a highly respected and evidence-based therapy used to support individuals with additional needs — and is the most widely used and researched therapy for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, ABA is not limited to autism; its principles are applied across many areas, including work with neurotypical children, business, fitness, animal training, and more.

ABA is a scientific method focused on improving socially significant behaviours. These behaviours can include, but are not limited to:

• Communication and language
   
• Reading and academic skills
   
• Life skills
   
• Gross and fine motor skills
   
• Self-help skills
   
• Toileting and personal care
   
• Eating and feeding behaviours
   

ABA therapy works through structured learning, motivation, and reinforcement. It uses data-driven strategies to analyse behaviours and develop practical solutions for behavioural challenges. ABA has been validated by decades of research and continues to evolve through ongoing study.

A key strength of ABA is its ability to break down complex skills into smaller, manageable steps, making it particularly effective for learners of all abilities. The goal is to help each individual reach their full potential by increasing important target behaviours and reducing behaviours that interfere with learning or quality of life.

ABA programs typically incorporate:

• Natural environment teaching
   
• Positive reinforcement
   
• Prompting and fading
   
• Pairing (building positive relationships with learning)
   
• Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT)
   
• Regular assessment and data review
   

ABA therapy may be beneficial if your child:
✅ Has an ASD diagnosis or other additional needs and is struggling to meet developmental milestones
✅ Has delays in language and communication
✅ Exhibits behaviours that interfere with learning or daily life
✅ Struggles to make friends or socially engage
✅ Needs support with preschool or school readiness skills
✅ Has difficulties with play and leisure skills
✅ Needs support with independence (toileting, eating, dressing, etc.)
✅ Needs academic support (reading, writing, etc.)
✅ And much more...

The level of dedication and involvement from parents and family members can significantly enhance the effectiveness of an ABA program. Active participation, consistency, and collaboration with your ABA team will bring great value to your child’s learning and long-term progress.

If you have any questions or would like to explore what Absolute ABA UK can offer within your family’s budget, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help your child thrive.

We provide ABA therapy across homes, schools, nurseries, and within the wider community. Absolute ABA UK works collaboratively with a number of Local Authorities to support our clients and their families across a variety of settings.

The primary goal of any ABA program is to help children access the school curriculum as independently as possible. Schools determine the educational curriculum, and the role of the ABA team is to contribute specialist knowledge in autism and behavioural support to help pupils succeed in this environment.

We particularly focus on supporting children who experience challenges with:

• Attention and engagement
   
• Behavioural and emotional regulation
   
• Generalisation of skills across different environments
   

Our strategies are designed to be fully compatible with both mainstream and special needs settings. We aim for children to follow the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and National Curriculum, appropriately differentiated to meet their individual needs.

Importantly, we do not replace teachers or other therapists (such as Speech and Language Therapists or Occupational Therapists). Instead, we work in partnership with them to complement their efforts and enhance the child’s learning experience. Our practices and strategies are carefully designed to be non-disruptive to the wider class and are delivered with respect for the school’s existing teaching approaches.

We collaborate closely with a wide range of professionals — including teachers, SENCOs, therapists, and Local Authority staff — to ensure that our work is cohesive and supportive of each child’s overall educational and developmental plan.

Your child’s ABA Consultant will typically meet regularly with the professionals involved in your child’s education and care. These meetings are used to:
✅ Identify areas where additional support is needed
✅ Plan pre-teaching of key skills in ABA sessions
✅ Reinforce learning in the classroom
✅ Troubleshoot any difficulties
✅ Promote consistency across all environments

Our role is to provide support based on the principles of ABA, with the goal of helping your child develop skills that are meaningful and functional — enriching their lives and the lives of their families. We are committed to working collaboratively and respectfully with all partners involved in your child’s care and education to ensure the very best outcomes.

Many of the children we support experience difficulties with communication, which can sometimes contribute to the behaviours we see. Through the use of comprehensive assessments and observations, we create and implement individualised plans to help children learn to express their needs and wants through appropriate communication — for example, using words or other functional communication methods instead of behaviours of concern.

Our aim is to support children in developing the skills they need to access and enjoy opportunities that were previously unavailable to them.

ABA is a data-driven approach. We collect and analyse data to ensure that behaviour support plans, educational interventions, and skill-building programs are tailored to each child’s unique needs and are effective in achieving meaningful outcomes.

All behaviour serves a purpose. There are often underlying reasons — or functions — for behaviours of concern. Once we understand the function of a behaviour, we can develop effective interventions to help the child learn new, more socially significant ways to meet their needs.

We use a method called ABC data collection to analyse behaviours:

• Antecedent: What happens before the behaviour?
  Example: An adult says, “Put your coat on.”
   
• Behaviour: The behaviour that occurs.
  Example: The child drops to the floor and cries.
   
• Consequence: What happens after the behaviour?
  Example: The adult puts the child’s coat on.
   

By consistently collecting this type of data, we can begin to identify patterns and understand the true function of behaviours.

Behaviours are typically maintained by one or more of the following functions:

1. Escape
   The child behaves to get away from an unpleasant situation.
   Example: Refusing hair washing.
    
2. Avoidance
   The child behaves to prevent something they know is coming.
   Example: Resisting bedtime.
    
3. Attention
   The behaviour is used to gain attention from others.
   Example: Shouting or throwing objects to get an adult’s response.
    
4. Access to Items
   The behaviour is a way to obtain a desired item or activity.
   Example: Crying to get a favourite toy.
    
5. Sensory Stimulation
   The behaviour provides internal sensory feedback that is pleasing to the individual.
   Example: Hand-flapping because it feels good.
    

Once we understand why a behaviour is occurring, we can teach children new, functional skills that serve the same purpose as the behaviour of concern — but in a more appropriate way.

For example, we might teach a child to request a break instead of engaging in escape behaviours, or to ask for attention in a more suitable manner.

By using positive, proactive strategies, we aim to reduce behaviours of concern and empower children with the communication and life skills they need to thrive.