Do you know how to start using visual strategies?

It helps all children when we use visual strategies but especially if they are on the autistic continuum. We use them all the time to aid children with many things including to help them stay on track. Here's Behaviour.com with 2 useful ones which are so easy to do:

Building a business

It's a been a very busy week with 2 Saturdays worth of training as well. Last week was a set of speech and language therapists, a complimentery therapist and a sports massage therapist in Birmingham, this week was a set of child-minders in Surrey who wanted to increase their knowledge because they  were all concerned about children they look after. 

It has been fantastic to meet so many women who are working for themselves, striving to develop businesses where they are making a difference to clients/children but also making a living which will pay the mortgage.

I get a little fed up of hearing about today's teenagers wanting fame and fortune and a welfare society who would rather stay in bed than work. It's quite depressing almost every time the news comes on!

These women were a great reminder that there are still many intelligent, capable women who are prepared to work their backsides off!! It's been a pleasure and a privilege to have met them all.

Who has the most influence on the development of a child's speech, language and communication?

Even if a child is in full-time day care, the parents still have the most influence on a child's communication development according to the latest research (Routledge et al 2012). This Hanen page shows parents why http://www.hanen.org/Special-Pages/BSHM.aspx?_cldee=bGliYnloaWxsMUBhb2wuY29t

Nasen Live 2013 - 22nd to 23rd May

Nasen is delighted that the Department for Education (DfE) has agreed to host briefing sessions at Nasen Live 2013. DfE officials working to revise the SEN Code or Practice and develop the new single SEN category (to replace School Action and School Action Plus) will be in attendance on both days to give an update and discuss the thinking behind the changes.

These sessions are free but book early to avoid disappointment.

Don't miss out on:
• Nasen's new School Inspection Toolkit
• Children and Families Bill
• Revised National Curriculum
• New assessment and examination systems
• Radical reform of how schools are funded
• Increased Pupil Premium for disadvantaged pupils

With a comprehensive seminar programme, FREE DfE sessions on both days and a FREE to enter SEND exhibition, there is something for everyone.  

www.nasenlive.org.uk

Giving Voice: Birmingham City Style!

It's always fantastic to see enthusiasm and drive and even more so when it's associated with a really important topic! Speech therapy transforms lives!!

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Why should you talk to a baby?

I've  just come back from a restaurant in Uttoxeter where families are encouraged (Helen Stretton is cringing now after the last time I mentioned someone she knew by co-incidence!). On an adjacent table were 6 adults and baby in a  high chair at the end. I would say the baby was about 6-8 months. They had no toys for him to play with and didn't talk to him at all for the half hour we sat near by. Occasionally if he whimpered, the mother tapped the high chair tray with her finger nails but did not look at or interact with him. He didn't wimper much as he was obviously used to them ignoring him.

He was beautifully dressed and obviously well cared for physically but they had no clue they could be, or should be including him in the conversation.

Why should they have been interacting with him?

Babies' brains need stimulating in order to develop properly:

By 22 months – a child’s development can predict outcomes at age 26

By 2 years – 75% of a child’s brain growth has occurred

By 2 years – the experiences of the child physically affects the brain structure

By  4  years – the difference in the number of words different groups hear is 19 million

By 5 years – a child’s vocabulary will predict their educational success and outcomes at age 30

So if you were the family in the  restaurant this evening, please make sure you are stimulating your little one much more than you do now!

We have some lovely new sessions in the Tamworth area to look at the marvellous first year, what factors help promote communication and what hinders development: Coton Green Community Room 1pm Wednesdays or Mill Lane Link 10am Thursdays

Speech Therapy transforms lives

We  need to be shouting about this. No-one else can do what we do. Have a look at this from some de Montford students who are saying that their way....