Words First Ltd

Last Friday, we came together for one of the highlights of the Words First year, our annual Summer Party! ☀️

Our team has grown so much that we now need venues big enough for everyone, and Hyde Park was the perfect setting for an afternoon together.

Everyone brought picnic food, drinks and plenty of great energy, making it a fantastic way to round off another academic year.

A huge thank you to Jenna, one of our amazing Speech and Language Therapists, for capturing the day so beautifully. These are just a few of her incredible photos.

You can view the full gallery here: https://wordsfirst.uk/2026-2/

Most importantly, thank you to every member of the Words First team for your hard work, dedication and commitment throughout the past academic year. We hope you had a wonderful afternoon. 💙

Before wrapping up the final days of the academic year, we came together for a quick whole company Teams call.

We looked back on the milestones, achievements and growth across Words First, recognised the dedication our team brings to children, young people and schools every single day, and heard some inspiring words from our Director about the exciting opportunities and ambitions for the year ahead.

A huge thank you to every member of the Words First team for everything you've contributed this year. 💙

Learning to read does not just build literacy skills. It also helps children develop vocabulary, language and confidence across the curriculum. 📚✨

When reading is difficult, children are exposed to fewer new words, making it harder to develop the language they need for learning.

This carousel explores:

✨ Why vocabulary and reading are closely linked
✨ The importance of reading fluency, not just accuracy
✨ Practical classroom strategies to build confident readers
✨ Why processing speed and language should be considered alongside reading difficulties

As we celebrate the Year of Reading, it is a great opportunity to support every child to become a confident reader.

Speech is not just about being understood. It also plays an important role in language development, and learning to read and spell. 🗣️📖

✨ How speech difficulties can affect language development: Children learn language through listening, understanding, and practicing spoken words. If a child has speech difficulties, it can be harder for them to clearly produce sounds and words, which may reduce their confidence in talking and limit opportunities to practice language skills. This can affect the development of vocabulary, sentence structure, and social communication, as children may avoid speaking or may not always be understood by others.

✨How speech difficulties can affect literacy development: Learning to read and spell relies heavily on recognising and being able to accurately produce speech sounds. Children who have difficulty producing or distinguishing sounds may find it harder to link sounds to letters, which can impact phonics, and make reading accuracy and spelling more challenging. They may also need more time and support to develop awareness of sounds within words (known as phonological awareness), an important foundation for early literacy skills.

✨How teachers can support speech difficulties in the classroom:

- Give children plenty of time to talk. Allow extra time for responses and avoid finishing words or sentences for them. This helps build confidence and encourages communication.

- Model correct speech naturally. If a child says a word incorrectly, repeat it back correctly in your response without asking them to copy you. For example, if a child says “tat” for “cat”, you might say, “Yes, it’s a cat.”

- Sound out the words FOR the child. If teachers sound out the word for the child, it reduces the speech demands of the task and allows the child to focus on recognising the sounds and accurately linking them to letters.

Small changes in the way we support speech can have a lasting impact on language and literacy development.

Language is at the heart of everything we do. It is the foundation for learning, friendships, reading, writing and confidence. 💬📚

Around 2 children in every classroom have Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), yet many go unnoticed. There is an enormous overlap between language difficulties, speech sound difficulties and literacy difficulties - so when you notice someone is struggling with talking or reading, think language!

Swipe through to discover:

✨ Why vocabulary matters for reading comprehension
✨ The best words to pre-teach across the curriculum
✨ How language, speech and literacy are closely connected
✨ What to look out for if a child is struggling

Last, but certainly not least, in our Team Leader Day series, we'd like to introduce Sarika's team, The M&Ms! 🍬

The M&Ms may have had their name long before this year's Team Leader Day, and while the story behind it remains a closely guarded team secret 🤫, it perfectly captures the team's fun, friendly nature and the bond they share.

One of the highlights of the day was a lively game of This or That, where team members chose between a range of fun personal preferences and workplace habits. It was a great way for both new and established team members to get to know each other a little better, with plenty of laughs and a few unexpected discoveries along the way.

Like all of our Team Leader Days, the activities weren't just about having fun. They created opportunities to build relationships, strengthen interdisciplinary working, and appreciate the different perspectives, experiences, and strengths that each therapist brings to the team.

Here's to the M&Ms: a team that's supportive, skilled, a little bit cheeky, and always ready to enjoy the journey together.

That wraps up our Team Leader Day series for this academic year. A huge thank you to all of our Team Leaders for creating spaces where their teams can connect, learn from one another, celebrate successes, and continue developing the collaborative culture that makes Words First such a special place to work.

Next in our Team Leader Day series, we'd like to introduce Lisa's team, The Banana Velvets 2.0! 🍌

Inspired by the iconic banana artwork created by Andy Warhol for The Velvet Underground, the team chose the name because they felt it reflected who they are: unique, vibrant, and full of personality.

Like all of our Team Leader Days, the focus was on bringing people together, sharing ideas, and strengthening the relationships that support great interdisciplinary working.

One of the highlights of the day was welcoming new team members and guests through a game of "Find Somebody Who...". It was a simple but effective way to get everyone talking, helping the team learn more about one another and build new connections.

The team also took time to celebrate some exciting personal milestones over cupcakes, including an upcoming wedding and a growing family. 🧁

It's these opportunities to connect, celebrate one another, and share experiences that make Team Leader Days such an important part of life at Words First.

Thank you to Lisa and The Banana Velvets 2.0 for a fantastic Team Leader Day!

Next in our Team Leader Day series, we'd like to introduce Amy's team, Kaleidoscope Minds! 🌈

The name Kaleidoscope Minds was chosen to represent the beauty of change, shifting perspectives, diversity, and the unique strengths that each therapist and discipline brings to the team. Together, these different perspectives help shape the support we provide to the children, young people, families, and settings we work with.

Their Team Leader Day focused on sharing experiences, strengthening interdisciplinary practice, celebrating successes, and exploring ideas for how they can continue to develop and improve the service they provide.

The day began by sharing successes and "small wins", highlighting the positive difference each team member is making in their schools and settings, whether through big achievements or everyday moments.

One of the highlights of the day was a guided movement and breathing session led by Amy. The team enjoyed a chance to reset and recharge, although they may have needed a gentle nudge to get moving again afterwards!

Thank you to Amy and Kaleidoscope Minds for a wonderful Team Leader Day filled with collaboration, conversation, and plenty of laughter.

Next in our Team Leader Day series, we'd like to introduce Claire's team, The Simones! 🤸

The Simones take their name from Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who the team chose as their inspiration when they formed in August 2024.

For the team, Simone represents resilience, determination, and openness about mental health and wellbeing, values that closely align with the way we work at Words First. She's also known for her flexibility, something the team felt reflected the adaptable approach they bring to supporting schools, children, and one another.

One memorable moment from their recent Team Leader Day came just as they had invited Brigitta to join them online... the fire alarm went off! Thankfully, everyone was safe, and after a brief interruption, the day continued.

For Claire, the real highlight was seeing the team's positivity and willingness to embrace new developments across the organisation. Whether discussing clinical practice, supporting one another through change, or simply helping move tables to prepare the room for the next day's activities, the team demonstrated the collaboration and teamwork that sit at the heart of Words First.

Thank you to Claire and The Simones for a fantastic Team Leader Day!