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Step 1, Educational Skills Workshops
Informal, Interactive and Informative virtual group workshop sessions over 8 weeks each for 1 1/2hours will be led by Ann Saunders with the support of Education, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy colleagues.
These workshops will provide parents/carers the opportunity to;
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learn about child development, and some educational theories
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master some practical educational skills used in special schools
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stand back and review their family life
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consider how this learning can impact their life at home
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develop new contacts with other parents and professionals
Titles of the Sessions
Sessions 1 & 2 – Independence - How can I encourage my child to become more independent in everyday life?
Sessions 3 & 4 – Communication - How can I enable my child to be more proficient in their communication?
Sessions 5 & 6 - Behaviour - How can I help my child make positive changes in the way they behave?
Session 7 – Sensory Integration - How can I support my child's sensory responses?
Session 8 – Planning for Change - How can I make change happen with my child at home?
Step 2, Empower Parents
The Empowerment of parents will start during the workshop sessions and continue during the Individual Family sessions in their home by giving parents/carers the opportunity to;
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recall and practice the skills and knowledge learnt in the workshop sessions
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give parents the self-belief that they can make change happen for their child
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identify the family’s values, goals, desires and recognise any obstacles in the way of achieving them for their family and child
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identify an area where change can happen in their home for their child
Ann will also visit the child’s school to discuss the child’s learning targets & any support strategies regularly used by school staff.
Developing excitement within the parents/carers will also start during the workshop sessions and and continue during the Individual Family sessions in their home with the aim to;
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enable parents and carers to step back and review their home life
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energise and excite parents and carers to see possibilities for change
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provide the excitement and motivation that change can happen and will be successful
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identify an area where change can happen for their child and the family.
Possible questions that could be considered;
o What’s currently happening well at home with your child?
o What’s not happening successfully at present?
o What would you like your family life to be like in 5years time?
o What area would you like to work on? Why?
The Individual Family sessions move to the next step where parents/carers and Ann together;
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Establish a clear goal for the change that has been identified
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Identify the steps that are needed to occur to achieve the goal
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Discuss practical action or changes that are needed in their home
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Create a step-by-step plan
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Create or purchase any resources required for the plan
Around 4-5 discussion sessions will take place in the family's home depending on the family, their requirements and the area being worked on.
For 2-3 weeks the parents implement the plan in their home.
Ann will be available for advice where necessary by WhatsApp, email or phone.
For a further 2-3 weeks the parents implement the new plan in their home.
Ann will continue to be available for advice where necessary by WhatsApp, email or phone.
At the end of the 3rd week Ann and parents together examine if the goal of the plan has been achieved.
Together parents and Ann celebrate the success that has been achieved.
Discussion also occurs on how to
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maintain this success
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plan for and implement change in other areas for their child and family