Colourful semantics:
Colourful semantics is a therapy approach which uses colour coded pictures and symbols to help children understand and use phrases and sentences. It can be used to introduce new vocabulary and increase the number the words a child understands and uses. It can also be used to help children understand and use longer and more complex sentences.
Blank Language levels:
The Blank Language Levels are a way of thinking about the types of questions we ask children. There are four Blank levels which increase in complexity from simple “what is it?” naming questions at level 1, through to complex “why?” questions at level 4. Blank levels can help us identify the level of question is able to understand and respond to. It is also an approach which can be used to develop a child's level of understanding. Adults can use the Blank Level framework to think about and adapt the type of questions they ask a child so that they are at the correct level for the child's current level of understanding. Then the adult can use practice activities to extend the child's understanding up to the next level.
Vocabulary and wordfinding:
This workshop explains how children learn new words and considers the different types of words children learn and use. We share strategies and activity ideas for ways to help children learn, remember and recall new words so that they can extend their vocabulary. Having a good vocabulary is an important communication skill so that children can understand and use a wide range of words. Evidence shows that having a good vocabulary knowledge also supports children with their academic learning.
Early language:
This workshop is designed to help parents understand how children learn to use early words and phrases when they are starting to develop their language skills. We share a range of approaches, strategies and ideas which family can try at home to help children develop their early language skills.
Makaton:
Makaton uses signs, along with speech and symbols to support those who need an alternative or additional means of communication.
We offer:
- Makaton Taster session – This is a 90 min online session, to provide an overview of how and why we might use Makaton, as well as teaching you approx. 30 signs to get started with.
- Makaton Level 1 – full day (or two half days) – In this longer workshop, you will learn more about Makaton and how we use the signs and symbols. You will also learn stages one and two of the Makaton core vocabulary and have lots of time to practise!
Narrative Therapy Workshop
Our Narrative Therapy workshop explains the approach we use to help children learn to understand the re-tell stories. This workshop is often the next step after our Blank language levels workshop. It explains how we can help children move beyond the sentence level and start to combine thoughts, ideas and words into a story structure. Many children find sequence events or remembering the order in which things happened a challenge and by developing Narrative skills they can improve their ability to both understand and re-tell events and stories.
Phonology/Speech sounds:
This workshop explains how different speech sounds are made and provides strategies for the adult to use in order to help them support the child to make speech sounds they currently find hard to produce. We explain how and where in the mouth different sounds are made, how adults can help children to change their speech production and suggest strategies / activities for adults to use in order to help children practice and generalise their new speech sound into their speech.
Makaton:
Makaton uses signs, along with speech and symbols to support those who need an alternative or additional means of communication.
We offer:
- Makaton Taster session – This is a 90 min online session, to provide an overview of how and why we might use Makaton, as well as teaching you approx. 30 signs to get started with.
- Makaton Level 1 – full day (or two half days) – In this longer workshop, you will learn more about Makaton and how we use the signs and symbols. You will also learn stages one and two of the Makaton core vocabulary and have lots of time to practise!
Theory of Mind:
This is an in-person interactive workshop lasting approximately two hours, run by Speech and Language Therapists working in the Social Communication team.
The purpose of this workshop is to learn more about social communication and interaction differences and to have a basic understanding of theory of mind which is the ability to understand that people have many different beliefs, thoughts and intentions.
We will then explore ways to support your child and discuss resources you can use, this includes
- Using books
- Having conversations
- Watching TV programmes/films
- You will have an opportunity to discuss which stage to explore for your child throughout this work
Theory of mind for secondary school children:
This is an in-person interactive workshop lasting approximately two and a half hours, run by Speech and Language Therapists working in the social communication team.
The purpose of this workshop is to learn more about social communication and interaction differences and to have a basic understanding of theory of mind which is the ability to understand that people have many different beliefs, thoughts and intentions.
We will then explore ways to support your child and discuss resources you can use, this includes
- Having conversations
- Watching TV programmes/films
You will have an opportunity to discuss which stage to explore for your child throughout this workshop
We will also discuss Comic strip conversations, created by Carol Gray, are simple, comic style drawings that focus on a specific social situation.
They include speech bubbles and thought bubbles to explore what your child and the people around them may be saying and thinking.
In this workshop we will explore how and why comic strip conversations can help your child. You will then have an opportunity to practice drawing out a comic strip specific to your child's needs.
Comic strip conversations:
This is a face-to-face, one and a half hour workshop
Aims:
- What are comic strip conversations?
- How and why comic strip conversations can help
- How to use comic strip conversations
Stages one and two social communication:
This is a two hour online workshop where you will learn:
- To have a better understanding of social communication differences
- To have a better understanding of the stage of social communication your child is at
- To learn some general strategies to support your child's social communication skills
- To have some practical ideas to use with your child at home
- A chance for you to meet other parents with children with similar needs
This is for parents of children who are pre-intentional in their social communication and those who are sending messages intentionally physically or using some words.
Find out more about Social Communication here: Social Communication :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.
Stages three and four social communication:
This is a two hour online workshop where you will learn:
- To have a better understanding of social communication differences
- To have a better understanding of the stage of social communication your child is at
- To learn some general strategies to support your child's social communication skills
- To have some practical ideas to use with your child at home
- A chance for you to meet other parents with children with similar needs
This is for parents of children who are beginning to communicate for social purposes, to share an interest with others and those who are beginning to attempt back and forth conversations and are interested in interacting with other children.
Social stories:
This is a face-to-face, one and a half hour workshop
Aims:
- What is a social story?
- How do they help?
- How to write one
Hanen – more than words:
Parent programme (Online or face-to-face – Day or evening offered) for autistic children and those needing social communication support
There will be five two and a half hour group session – parents only
Two video feedback sessions per family with child and parent.
Hanen – Talkability:
Parent programme (Online or face-to-face – Day or evening offered) for verbal autistic children (age four-eight as a guide) and those needing social communication support – Looks at tuning in and theory of mind as well as more elaborate communication/conversational skills.
Makaton:
Makaton uses signs, along with speech and symbols to support those who need an alternative or additional means of communication.
We offer:
- Makaton Taster session – This is a 90 min online session, to provide an overview of how and why we might use Makaton, as well as teaching you approx. 30 signs to get started with.
- Makaton Level 1 – full day (or two half days) – In this longer workshop, you will learn more about Makaton and how we use the signs and symbols. You will also learn stages one and two of the Makaton core vocabulary and have lots of time to practise!
Stammering – Younger children:
The workshop is for parents of younger children, seven and under, and provides further information about stammering in younger children, including factors that impact stammering. The workshop also provides the opportunity to go away with a home plan, following discussions around how to support your child’s confident communication at home.
Stammering Parental workshop
The workshop is for parents and provides further information about stammering, including factors that can impact. The workshop also provides the opportunity to go away with a home plan, following discussions around how to support your child’s confident communication at home.
Stammering Education setting workshop
The service runs an online workshop for staff within educational settings. This will typically be linked to a child or young person who we are currently supporting on our caseload. The workshop provides lots of information about stammering including; how children and young people can be impacted by stammering, how this may present in the classroom, and how to support these pupils by creating stammering friendly classrooms. We share lots of useful resources that you can use within your educational setting. The workshop also provides an opportunity to speak to one of the speech and language therapists who work in the stammering team if you have any questions about supporting your students.
Complex Needs – Language:
This is for children with delayed language who are at a range of stages of communication. They may not yet be sending messages intentionally, but rather reacting to the environment around them. They may be using single words (this includes signing / pointing to symbols).
Aims:
- Learn about language development
- Understand your child’s stage of communication
- Learn some new strategies and activities to support your child’s communication
- Make a plan to use at home
Complex Needs – Total Communication:
This is for children who we feel would be helped by using a total communication approach. Total communication is about accepting any means of communication and finding and using the right combination of communication approaches for your child.
Aims:
- To learn about what total communication is
- To understand why it is helpful
- To think about how to use it effectively for your child
- To make a plan for home
Makaton:
Makaton uses signs, along with speech and symbols to support those who need an alternative or additional means of communication.
We offer:
- Makaton Taster session – This is a 90 min online session, to provide an overview of how and why we might use Makaton, as well as teaching you approx. 30 signs to get started with.
- Makaton Level 1 – full day (or two half days) – In this longer workshop, you will learn more about Makaton and how we use the signs and symbols. You will also learn stages one and two of the Makaton core vocabulary and have lots of time to practise!
AAC Communication Book/boards workshop:
This virtual workshop lasts one hour and can be offered to parents/carer/school staff.
This workshop introduces parents/carers/school staff to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and how it can help children communicate more effectively. This workshop will support families using any symbols or alternative communication system alongside verbal language.
We will explore what AAC is, why it’s beneficial, and explore the different types of communication boards and books.
This workshop explores how to model the language; and do this naturally and effectively to support the understanding and use of language/symbols in everyday routines and play. We explore the many reasons children may wish to communicate beyond requesting, and how we as adults can support this through modelling.
One area we focus on is exploring the types of words we recommend are included when creating any visuals/symbol sets.
You will learn practical strategies to build your child’s confidence and develop richer interactions. At the end of the workshop there will be opportunity to create a simple home plan to start using AAC consistently.
The workshop is designed to be supportive, hands-on and accessible, helping you feel confident using communication boards or books to support your child’s communication at home/school.
AAC Communication Book/boards workshop:
This virtual workshop lasts one hour and can be offered to parents/carer/school staff.
This workshop introduces parents/carers/school staff to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and how it can help children communicate more effectively. This workshop will support families using any symbols or alternative communication system alongside verbal language.
We will explore what AAC is, why it’s beneficial, and explore the different types of communication boards and books.
This workshop explores how to model the language; and do this naturally and effectively to support the understanding and use of language/symbols in everyday routines and play. We explore the many reasons children may wish to communicate beyond requesting, and how we as adults can support this through modelling.
One area we focus on is exploring the types of words we recommend are included when creating any visuals/symbol sets.
You will learn practical strategies to build your child’s confidence and develop richer interactions. At the end of the workshop there will be opportunity to create a simple home plan to start using AAC consistently.
The workshop is designed to be supportive, hands-on and accessible, helping you feel confident using communication boards or books to support your child’s communication at home/school.
Makaton:
Makaton uses signs, along with speech and symbols to support those who need an alternative or additional means of communication.
We offer:
- Makaton Taster session – This is a 90 min online session, to provide an overview of how and why we might use Makaton, as well as teaching you approx. 30 signs to get started with.
- Makaton Level 1 – full day (or two half days) – In this longer workshop, you will learn more about Makaton and how we use the signs and symbols. You will also learn stages one and two of the Makaton core vocabulary and have lots of time to practise!
