Therapy and Training Services for Schools

Transcription

1 Therapy and Training Services for Schools

2 Children s Therapies - Supporting schools in South West London since 2009 Children s Therapies is an independent child therapy practice based in Putney, South West London. Our specialist team provides a broad range of therapy services to children in clinic and school settings, and training and support services for teaching staff. Marianne Brown, Speech Therapist and Owner of Children s Therapies We have an excellent reputation with the schools we work with, and offer value for money to maximise stretched school budgets. How We Can Help Your School Meeting the additional needs of children Over recent years there has been a growing awareness of needs that were previously overlooked or put down to bad behaviour. We now recognise that many behavioural issues are due to genuine difficulties with attention and listening, such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), or to neurological disorders such Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Asperger s Syndrome. The increasing social and economic pressures families are facing are also taking their toll on children, sometimes leading to emotional and behavioural problems at school. Teachers tell us it is hard for them to meet both the educational needs and the additional needs of all the children in their care. As well as providing expert therapy services, we can improve life at school for both children and staff by training your teachers, learning support assistants and SENCos how to: Identify and support children with additional needs Integrate these needs with teaching the rest of the class Understand when to get specialist help 2

3 Therapy Services Our highly qualified and caring therapists make therapy a positive and enjoyable experience for children. We use a full range of methods and approaches, and involve parents and teachers to get the best outcome. We provide speech and language therapy, child psychology, play therapy and occupational therapy to help children with difficulties including: Delayed speech or language development Speech disorders such as lisps or stammers Specific language impairment Attention and listening problems Anger management problems Social development and communication issues Emotional and behavioural problems that are affecting learning and friendships Fine and gross motor difficulties, including handwriting and coordination Therapy can supplement NHS services being provided, and can take place in an individual or group setting as appropriate. If you have children in your school who might need some form of extra support, we re happy to arrange a meeting to discuss individual cases and how our therapy services can help. Please call us on for an initial discussion to find out more, or info@childrenstherapies.co.uk The relationship between Lisa and the staff is excellent. The children really enjoy their sessions and always receive positive praise and encouragement. We have seen outstanding progress with all the children Lisa has seen. I would highly recommend Children s Therapies to any parent or school. Lisa Gadsby is particularly committed she is a true professional. Jane Luard, Head of Lion House School 3

4 Training Courses and Support Groups All the courses listed below can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of individual schools, and we encourage you to share as much information as possible about your school prior to training so that we can focus on your needs. Training can take place in your school setting during or after school hours, or on Inset days, and counts towards Continuing Professional Development. An overview of each course is provided below, but please contact us for more detailed content for any of the courses you are interested in. Elklan Courses for Speech and Language Therapy Elklan is a highly respected organisation that trains speech and language therapists to deliver speech and language therapy training to education staff. Children s Therapies has two Elkan tutors who can come to your setting and train your staff to support children with communication needs in your school. There are many benefits in your own staff being Elklan trained by us, and these include: Working more effectively with children with speech, language and communication difficulties in the classroom Helping children with additional needs to access the mainstream curriculum Being a specialist resource on Speech and Language needs for the other members of staff in the school Knowing how to interpret SLT reports and programmes so that they can be implemented more easily and effectively Feeling confident in dealing with a child s mild speaking and listening difficulties and knowing when to refer to a speech and language therapist Confidence in talking to parents about a child s speaking and listening skills Sharing a common language with the SLT service, increasing the effectiveness of this relationship 4

5 1. Speech and Language Support for Under 5 s This course is run over ten weekly two-hour sessions in your setting. Participants receive training to support the communication of all children but especially those with speech and language difficulties in under 5 s settings. This course trains Early Years practitioners working within Education, Day Nurseries, Playgroups, Sure Start projects and other Early Years settings. What does the course cover? The different aspects of communication Adult child interaction and non-verbal communication Developing play, listening and attention skills Understanding first words and using visual strategies Understanding beyond simple sentences Modifying adult speech to help a child understand language Encouraging expressive language development Supporting children with unclear speech Management of stammering and application of all strategies learnt 2. Let s Talk With Under 5 s This is an accredited course delivered over six two-hour workshops with an optional seventh one, which explores phonology (speech sound development). Who Is The Course For? The course is relevant to parents as well as pre-school practitioners wanting some basic key skills and knowledge. It aims to help parents, pre-school practitioners, and SLTs share the same information and work collaboratively to promote the communication skills of all children under 5, but particularly those with delayed speech and language. 5

6 What Does The Course Cover? Communication components Adult-child interaction Play, and the link between play and language Understanding language Using words and sentences Asking questions and sharing books Helping children with unclear speech 3. Speech and Language support for 5-11 s This course trains Teachers and Assistants working with children in primary schools. What does the course cover? Understanding non-verbal communication, listening, attention and using visual strategies Developing memory skills Modifying adult s speech to help a child understand language Encouraging expressive language Promoting effective social skills Supporting children with unclear speech Management of stammering and application of all strategies learn The course was excellent. You both came across as friendly and professional and very knowledgeable about your subject. The teachers loved it and were all very positive. Several staff have commented on how useful the talk was and how they are going to you for advice. Thank you so much. Mercedes Remuinan, SENCo at Orchard House School 6

7 4. Speech and Language Support for s This course trains Teachers and Assistants working in secondary schools, with children who have mild to moderate additional needs. What does the course cover? What are the different aspects of communication? Memory and learning Learning styles and motivation Promoting vocabulary development Understanding and using sentences Developing verbal reasoning Promoting effective social skills Articulation, phonological awareness and spelling Linking it all together - applying knowledge during everyday classroom activities 5. Supporting Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder This course is for those who support children of any age who have a diagnosis of High Functioning Autism or Asperger s Syndrome or who have difficulty using language in a social context. What does the course cover? What is Autism? Using structure with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Developing Communication Developing Interaction Behaviour is Communication 7

8 An Introduction to Creative and Therapeutic Approaches to Working with Children This course is suitable for all teaching and support staff. What does the course cover? This one-day experiential workshop explores the motivations behind different patterns of behaviour, and explores how we can understand a child's behaviour as a form of communication. The course is run by our arts therapist, who is registered with the Health Professions Council and experienced in working with both staff and pupils in schools, including schools for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. 8

9 Negative patterns of behaviour are often linked to factors such as a troubled home life, parental separation or loss, peer conflicts or lack of self-esteem. These behaviours can have a significant impact on teachers including: Difficulty keeping control in the classroom Misinterpretation of behaviour patterns, with discipline exacerbating the cycle Having to manage aggressive behaviour Spending too much time trying to support the needs of a few children Participants will explore the different creative mediums of play, story and art, and how these approaches can be applied to support communication, improve emotional well-being and enhance learning. Benefits of being able to apply a therapeutic approach to teaching Increased psychological understanding of child behaviour Understanding of behaviour as an attempt to communicate Able to integrate needs of individual children with those of the whole class Improved relationship with the whole class A calmer, more focused and harmonious classroom Better learning outcomes for the whole class Reduction in stress and greater job satisfaction Confidence supporting children with emotional needs Practical tools and activities to utilise in the classroom 9

10 Occupational Therapy Workshop This course is suitable for all teaching and support staff. What does the course cover? This is a short workshop helping staff to identify barriers to a child s learning in the form of sensory and motor problems that can affect their performance, work output, learning and attention in class, including: Sensory processing disorder Fidgeting or restlessness Attention difficulties or ADHD Problems with fine motor skills e.g. handwriting, fine motor coordination, or dexterity Problems with gross motor skills e.g. gross motor coordination, motor planning difficulties such as dyspraxia, or difficulty with sports Sensory Processing Disorder Sensory processing is the ability to organise the information that we receive from our various senses to help us understand our body, our environment, and how we interact within our world. Children with SPD often have difficulty staying in a calm, alert state where they can focus and pay attention, and can sometimes be constantly on the go. Our occupational therapist will show staff: 10 How to identify sensory processing disorder Equipment, activities and exercises to modulate arousal levels in the classroom How to help children who have difficulties paying attention Motor Skills Difficulties Staff will be shown generic handwriting strategies, and there will be a Q&A session where the therapist can address the needs of children in the class with specific motor skills difficulties.

11 Teacher Support Groups Rather than a course, this is a bi-weekly or monthly support group lasting one to two hours for teachers and LSAs. What does the support group involve? Many teachers experience concern and stress from dealing with children's emotional needs on top of meeting their teaching targets and management obligations, and often end up taking these worries home. Some teachers tell us they feel responsible, but powerless to 'help' or to assist children in the best way, and that these worries negatively impact their job satisfaction and ability to teach. Our trained therapist will provide a designated time and space for staff to reflect and relate to each other about their teaching practice. This can significantly reduce the stress and emotional burden linked to carrying concern for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Staff will also have the opportunity to develop skills in helping children to manage and communicate their feelings before they escalate. Teachers have reported lower stress levels and improved working relationships after leaving the support groups, and increased confidence in dealing with the issues raised and discussed during the session. If you are interested in any of our training courses or would like to discuss requirements for a course tailored to your needs, please call us on for an initial discussion to find out more, or info@childrenstherapies.co.uk 11

12 Children s Therapies within The Pilates Room 226a Upper Richmond Road Putney London SW15 6TG T: E: info@childrenstherapies.co.uk