Connect to Communicate: Building communication and interaction skills through adult-child interaction and play - Session 1 of 3

Connect to Communicate (C2C) discusses the development of early communication including the importance of shared attention, attunement and play with young children.
Session 1 - 7th May 2024
Session 2 - 20th June 2024
Session 3 - 11th July 2024
Delegates must attend all 3 sessions

Aims of the course:

To discuss and further understand communication and language development with a focus on pre-linguistic skills through to language expansion
To consider the importance of an attuned relationship to promote the development of early communication skills.
To explore play and how this can be used to develop early communication
To feel more confident in using play and effective communication strategies.

We will share the guiding principles of PACT (Paediatric Autism Communication therapy) and Intensive Interaction to support delegates’ understanding of effective early communication strategies.

An important feature of this workshop is the use of video-aided reflection. Delegates will be shown videos of the Connect to Communicate (C2C) strategies and principles in action. They have the opportunity to put what they have learnt into practice in their settings and will have the option of sharing and reflecting on their practice during the training sessions. This way the group facilitators can encourage and empower delegates to use and apply what they have learnt in their own settings, allowing them to develop key skills shown to improve the children’s social communication skills.

The course will be particularly beneficial for staff working with children who have differences in the way they communicate and interact which are impacting their day-to-day lives.

Facilitator
Venue & Travel Information

Gina Westwood and Georgia Abel, Educational Psychologist and Assistant Educational Psychologist from Rochdale Child and Educational Psychology Service

Georgia Abel, Assistant Educational Psychologist

I began working in Rochdale in 2021. Prior to this I worked as a key worker in Early Years and as tutor, supporting children at primary and secondary school level. I am passionate about ensuring young people feel safe and that they are listened to. I enjoy working collaboratively with key adults and taking relational and solution-oriented approaches. I am very enthusiastic about developing attuned relationships to help support young people’s development and have enjoyed delivering Connect to Communicate sessions to both nursery and school staff as well as parents and carers.

Dr Gina Westwood, Educational Psychologist

I qualified as an Educational Psychologist (EP) in 2009 and started working for Rochdale EPS in 2017, prior to this I worked as an EP for two other Local Authorities. I am passionate about supporting children and young people (CYP) to be seen, heard and understood and I enjoy developing a rapport with children and young people using a variety of tools and approaches to support them to share their experiences. I enjoy collaborating with significant others to unpick, explore and further understand children and young people, facilitating positive ways forward to enable them to engage and develop emotionally, socially and educationally. I am particularly interested in work in the Early Years and in relational approaches and early intervention. I advocate for the use of play as a means of developing attuned relationships and fundamental communication and interaction skills. Linked to this, I have enjoyed empowering school staff, professionals and parents through the development a project called Connect to Communicate.

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