Grace Mullin’s recent Post 16 Speech and Language training receives amazing feedback
Cognus Therapies Post 16 team work hard to meet the needs of EHCP learners in the London Borough of Sutton as well supporting learners from other boroughs by specific agreement with local authorities and colleges. This year, for the third year running, Cognus Therapies have been asked to provide speech and language therapy to South Thames Colleges Group, in particular Kingston College.
The team kicked off the New Year with two virtual training sessions delivered to a group of college staff as part of their inset day:
1. Promoting active engagement in learning activities
2. Neurodiversity and strategies to support the environment
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Grace Mullin, delivered both training sessions from home with over 80 staff attending each session via Microsoft Teams.
Ben Meadows, Head of Group Therapies at South Thames Colleges Group, thanked Grace for all the work she put into planning and delivering the training:
“I just wanted to say Grace was absolutely fabulous and the training was very well received from the staff.
Grace has a great training style and we had really good participation (always a good sign!)”
Staff participated using the ‘chat’ function on Teams, where they offered relevant and appropriate ideas and examples to consolidate their learning. One member of staff commented: You reminded me of the importance of breaks for our students. In English & Maths we have 2 hour lessons and most students struggle. Realising this is a valid issue makes me understand the importance of having quality breaks!
They asked for the PowerPoint slides and specific resources to be shared with them so they could make use of them across the college setting in a range of lessons.
Staff thanked Grace directly, stating how helpful and informative the sessions had been: Thank you very much for this interesting and practical session; Thank you very comprehensive.
One member of staff even commented: this should be mandatory training!
Grace added, “It was fantastic to see such a high level of participation from staff members in both training sessions. There were lots of interesting discussion points raised and staff showed a keen interest in applying the strategies shared in their classrooms”.
We look forward to continuing our work with the South Thames Colleges Group this year and would welcome contact from any other Local Authorities or specific colleges/Post 16 providers who are looking to enhance their Post 16 therapy provisions in the areas of both Speech and Language (SaLT) and Occupational Therapy (OT).
Please see contact details below:
Ashlea Stephens Post 16 SaLT Lead – ashlea.stephens@cognus.org.uk
Emma Perridge Post 16 OT Lead – emma.perridge@cognus.org.uk