Our Primary Development Sessions are aimed at primary aged children, from Foundation stage to Year 6. The sessions focus on the targets that have been set by the SENSS and SaLT teams for each individual child.
The aim of the sessions is two-fold: to support your child in school and to model the suggested SENSS and SaLT support to teachers and TAs. That way they can confidently implement the advice given. The sessions are held in blocks of four 45-minute visits at your child’s primary school. They are run by Helen Simpson, specialist advisory teacher. Helen runs these sessions one day a week in term time.
How does it work?
At the start of the academic year, parents of primary aged children are sent a Google form by email to express their interest. Marion Simon, the primary development coordinator, then contacts the schools and organises the visits. We organise the visits based on location so that Helen can visit as many children as possible in one day.
Who attends these sessions?
Each child will attend with a teaching assistant. The advantage of the teaching assistant attending is that the sessions also offer the opportunity of on-the-job training and discuss any classroom issues.
What do we focus on during the sessions?
Sessions are based on your child’s targets set by the SENSS team and the speech and language therapist. Helen is sent the most recent reports to prepare her sessions. She focusses mainly on these targets, but she is happy to support your child and their staff on other issues as well.
What do the sessions cost?
The sessions are funded by Down Syndrome Oxfordshire and therefore free of charge to parents and schools.
How do we sign up?
Parents and carers who would like to enrol their child can do so by filling in the Google form which will be sent out by email at the start of the school year. Please note if you are already enrolled there is no need to do so again. Your child will stay on the list and their school will be contacted automatically every year.
If you have any questions or have arrived in Oxfordshire later in the school year and would like to enrol,
