Primary One pupils in Dunmurry’s Christ the Redeemer Primary School are flourishing with the help of the South Eastern Trust’s Colin Schools Speech and Language Therapy Team’s Building Together programme, which supports children with speech, language and communication needs.

The schools’ ‘Sunshine Hub’ welcomed pupils Luan, Michael and Cohan who enjoyed a vibrant and engaging morning that began with a delve into the classic tale of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

The children along with their classroom assistants enjoyed a bespoke session especially designed by the Trust Community Speech, Language and Autism Team to support their language and communication skills by using practical, multisensory activities, based around familiar narratives and stories.

South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapist Jayne Parkhouse explained: “We have delivered this intervention over a period of eight weeks, it is a collaborative approach which involves staff workshops and parent training as well as group sessions with children from Primary One attending.

South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapist Jayne Parkhouse with Luan Tierney and Mum Niamh. Pic credit: SEHSCT

placeholder image — South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapist Jayne Parkhouse with Luan Tierney and Mum Niamh. Pic credit: SEHSCT

“The Building Together programme consists of Children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and social communication differences can face additional challenges when transitioning into Primary One. The Building Together programme, created by our Community SLT Team and Autism SLT Team, was designed to support these children, and provide practical approaches to support language and communication within the classroom and at home.

“We have put together a series of activities that help develop and bring out different aspects of their communication. The children will follow a very structured, visual schedule where they will see exactly what activities are happening and when.”

Mum to five-year-old Luan, Niamh Tierney shared how much her little boy looks forward to the weekly session.

“It is so lovely to see the children together, they all get on so well,” she said. “The session really helps with their social skills.

South Eastern Trust Speech and Language Therapist Jayne Parkhouse with Christ the Redeemer Teacher and SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) Claire Doherty. Pic credit: SEHSCT

"Luan really enjoys the ‘Storytime’ element of the programme and talks about the books they have picked and how he wants to do the activities at home. He really loves it. Luan is more eager to be more interactive and his favourite books at the minute is definitely The Hungry Caterpillar!”

Christ the Redeemer Teacher and SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) Claire Doherty added: “From the very start, the engagement from our staff, our parents, everyone was onboard.

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"It is a sharing of good practice which we find very important within the school. We house speech and language in school, teachers are able to liaise with Jayne on a regular basis and we able to tract and monitor the progress of our children who are involved in the Building Together programme.

“The children who Jayne selected to take part have social and communication difficulties and I was fortunate to attend the first session with Jayne and the Classroom Assistant to follow that journey up until now has been amazing.

“To see how our children are engaging in the project, the level of excitement, the build up to coming along every week is fantastic.

"I just hope other schools will take it onboard.”