Speech and Language

Springwell School Speech Therapy Assistant

Hello,

Just a quick message to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about what I do in school.

My name is Cheryl DeCosemo. After working in Springwell School for 8 years as a Teaching Assistant, the opportunity for me to train as a Speech Therapy Assistant became available, and I haven't looked back since. That was 8 years ago now.

My role in school is to liaise with parents and carers, teachers, teaching assistants, NHS speech therapists and any other professionals who may be involved with the child.

I currently have many children on my case load. I see children on a 1-1 basis, group therapy and whole class sessions.

These sessions are structured around the assessments which the child's NHS therapist has carried out.

I try to make each session fun and engaging, no matter what my objectives are. This way the children are eager to join in and learn new strategies to help them with their communication and understanding, without realising.

At the moment my sessions include:

* two focused communication groups

* one peer communication group, which two classes participate in

* two sensory groups

* 1-1 therapy

* three ASD communication groups

* communication aid support around school

* Makaton signing support around school

* Lego therapy

* The Listening Programm

* staff training in Makaton, Eye Gaze, Communicate in Print

* make resources for school, as well as for in the home

and more to be added in September.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me on the school number 01429 280600

I will always try my best to help.

One afternoon every week I get to spend the afternoon with the amazing pupils and staff in Caimen Class.

I plan a variety of different exciting activities for the children to take part in which enables them to build their skills in areas such as answering questions/asking questions, problem solving, taking turns, attending to an activity which was chosen by a peer, requesting objects, following instructions and much much more.

WE TALK MAKATON

We try to use Makaton signing as often as we possibly can, as it is a great form of communication.

We signed up to the 'sign of the week' programme which is supplied by the We Talk Makaton charity.

Each week the staff and children will be shown the sign of the week and we all try to use it as much as possible...

EXCITING NEWS............We have a new assistant joining the team.

Hi my name is Kyra George some of you will of known me from working in various classes around school as I have worked at Springwell for over 15 years as a Teaching Assistant, I am new to the role of Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. I will be working alongside and under the watchful-eye of Cheryl and the NHS Speech Therapists to provide additional support for the children.

I am really excited to be given this opportunity for a new adventure/challenge within school and cant wait to get started.

NO PENS WEDNESDAY 2020.

We had some great fun today putting our pens down and finding other ways to communicate.

Panda Class had been reading the book called 'The Gingerbread Man'. They played pass the parcel and everyone uncovered a character from the story. They then had to describe their character the best they could to see if anyone knew which book they were from. Then they had to sequence the characters as they appeared in the book. They had great fun and Leo guessed the book after the second character was uncovered. Well done Leo.

Elephant Class watched Louise use Makaton to sign the different characters from two books they have been reading in class, 'What the Ladybird heard' and 'What the Ladybird heard on holiday'. The children showed their understanding of the sings by having a hunt in the yard and in the classroom for the correct figures that represented the characters. They had lots of fun and were all amazing with their signs. Well done Elephant Class.

Shark Class used some amazing adjectives to describe the items they chose from the feely bag. They really thought hard about which clues to use. Well done Shark Class.

Pangolin Class had a busy afternoon searching through crushed Weetabix, different coloured ice shapes, crunchy crisps and sugar free jelly to find all of the animals that they have been reading about in class. The animals are from the book 'Giraffes can't Dance'. Well done Pangolin Class. You all looked like you were working very hard.

Jaguar Class went fishing today. They looked at the symbol that was is their captured fish then looked around the classroom for the matching symbol and then the real object. Well done Jaguar Class. You all were great at catching fish.

Toucan Class worked on their Phase 1 PECS. They did some amazing exchanges for their favourite things.

Evie -Eliana loved the bubbles today.

*******CHERYL'S STAR OF THE WEEK*******

England Song - IT'S COMING HOME

**This is why Elephant Class were my stars of the week. You are all amazing**

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Friday 28TH May 2021. This young lady has worked so hard in all her sessions this week. She has had 100% focus and astonished me with her spontanious signing. Well done and keep up with the great work *******

Harry wasn't happy just sat holding his certificate.

HERE ARE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF OUR THERAPY SESSIONS.

Therapy sessions 05-09TH July 2021.