Square Pegs SEND Support

05/11/2024

My spaces for 1:1 sessions are nearly full, however, I am also able to help with SEND paperwork and meetings.

As a qualified SENCO I can:

* Support you to apply for an EHCP.
* Check your child's EHCP and amend it accordingly.
* Support you with meetings such as annual reviews, mediation and coproductions.
* Support you with school searches.
* Support you with DLA paperwork.

I can also work with schools ans nurseries, offering SEND training for staff and SENCo support for individual pupils, groups of pupils or for SENCos new to the role.

Message me for more information.

Being a SEND parent can be confusing and difficult to navigate, there are so many (ever changing) terms, acronyms, forms, applications, meetings and paperwork to tackle. It can all feel overwhelming and difficult to manage, without support and sometimes it can feel like a constant battle to try and get your child's needs met.

If you think your child has special needs I can help you to apply for an Education, health care plan needs assessment (EHCNA). I can also check your child's existing EHCP to check that your child is getting the provision they need.

I can support you in meetings, to advocate for you and you child and support communication between schools and families.

I can also work with schools and nurseries offering training, mentoring and coaching. Working with educational settings to establish enabling learning environments, teaching effective communication strategies and establishing routines and visual support to ensure that SEND pupils are able to access the learning and make progress.

Please contact me to see how I can help you.

05/11/2024

🎆 Fireworks fun 🎆

I've had lots of fun with some of my little learners today celebrating bonfire night. We made some edible sparklers and then made our very own firework display using fidget spinners and paint filled balloons. It was very messy but very engaging, with lots of learning and language opportunities too. I used this as a bucket time for a preschooler and as a science experiment/ reading activity for an older learner and they both loved it. Learning doesn't have to be at a school desk!

23/10/2024

***AAC Freebie***

To celebrate AAC awareness month and Halloween I have made a simple aided language display you can use for trick or treating. Halloween can be challenging for many different reasons, especially if you have communication difficulties. A simple AAC board can make the difference between inclusion and exclusion. Giving children a voice, enabling them to join in and encouraging communication and interaction in a fun and motivating scenario.

22/10/2024

Another AAC Awareness Month post!

Here is another example of how to use AAC in play. Making a symbolised version of nursery rhymes can encourage, model and support communication through nursery rhymes, action songs and play. You could use this as a board to sing the song and point to each part, or act it out and match the symbols as you go. You could pause at key parts of the song to encourage the child to communicate the next part. It creates a great visual to scaffold the song and to help children predict what is coming next, they can also use it to join in with the repeated refrains. You could cut out the symbols and get the child to order them or stick them on sound buttons to encourage the child to press them and make the song for themselves. The communication opportunities are endless and lots of fun too!

21/10/2024

AAC awareness month.

AAC is so compatible with play, especially in the early years. Adding symbols, aided language display boards or switches/sound buttons can make play more inclusive, accessible and most importantly it gives children a voice. It's also visual, engaging and encourages different types of play.

17/10/2024

It is still AAC awareness month - here is a brief overview of the basic types of AAC that you can use. There are so many options these days. Sometimes simple is best and communication books and aided language boards are great for encouraging, modelling and sharing communication. However, if you feel your child needs something more high tech you can contact a speech and language therapist for an assessment or look for apps to use yourself. There are a whole host of AAC apps on the market, some are free if you wanted to try before you buy.

16/10/2024

Are you on long waiting lists for speech and language support? Do you have concerns about your child's development? Do you want to support your child's social communication skills before they start school? If the answer is yes, then I can help. Sessions available for early years play and communication sessions. Sessions are tailored to meet your child's needs and can focus on any area of development your child needs. I will also make resources for your child that you can use at home to support their development. Contact me for me more details. Kate 🤩