A New Year at Words First: Building on Last Term’s Sizzling Successes

As we step into January, we are excited to carry forward the momentum built during the autumn term. The final months of last year were filled with impact across our services, schools and communities. Our therapists delivered impactful support, strengthened partnerships with schools and families, and continued to grow the Words First community through collaboration, care and shared purpose. These successes set a strong foundation for another year of positive impact.

Strong starts and growing services

The autumn term marked important growth for Words First.

Gayathri, SaLT played a key role in launching our service in Manchester, building relationships and embedding high-quality Speech and Language Therapy provision from the outset. Her work supported schools in establishing consistent, responsive support for pupils in a new region.

Michelle, SaLT supported school staff early in the term through practical ADHD training. The session focused on understanding attention differences, recognising needs in the classroom and applying realistic strategies that staff could use immediately. Feedback highlighted how accessible and relevant the training felt as schools settled back into routine.

Interdisciplinary practice in action

Interdisciplinary practice remains central to how we work, and last term offered strong examples of this in practice.

Tasos, OT and Mukta, SaLT shared their collaborative work at a trust conference, presenting a case study that demonstrated how close teacher therapist partnership supports engagement, regulation and learning. Their contribution helped spark wider conversations about embedding interdisciplinary approaches across schools.

In a school setting, Jenna, SaLT and Ivy, OT delivered a Lego based therapy session that brought communication, regulation and participation goals together. Their joint planning and reflection ensured the session was responsive, child centred and effective.

Rithvik, SaLT also had a standout term, delivering training for school staff and co facilitating a parent workshop with Katrina, OT. Together, they supported shared understanding between families and schools, reinforcing the importance of working together around each child.

Supporting schools and families through partnership

Strong relationships with schools and families are at the heart of our work.

Vhahashu, SaLT led a parent drop in session that offered clear guidance on communication, literacy and emotional regulation. Parents valued the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns and leave with practical strategies they could use at home.

Awareness work continued to play an important role across school communities. SaLTs Caryn, Mollie and Charne supported DLD awareness activities, helping staff and pupils better understand developmental language needs and how to support learners effectively within everyday school life.

Learning, leadership and professional growth

Alongside direct work in schools, many therapists contributed to learning and development across the organisation.

Nida, SaLT delivered Words First staff training focused on identifying and supporting speech, language and communication needs in the classroom. The session explored practical ways teachers can adapt language, environment and interaction styles to support inclusion. Staff feedback highlighted the clarity of the training, the relevance to day to day teaching and the confidence it built in supporting pupils with SLCN.

Bhavini, SaLT received outstanding feedback from school leadership for her work across PRU settings, with recognition of both pupil progress and the upskilling of staff.

Prushonti, SaLT achieved her Dyslexia Accreditation!

SaLTs Mikaela and Rufayda completed significant postgraduate research, contributing to evidence based practice and wider professional knowledge.

Looking ahead

As we move into the new year, we remain grounded in our core values: child centred practice, collaboration, evidence based decision making, interdisciplinary working, and genuine partnership with schools and families.

The successes of last term remind us that our impact comes from working together and supporting one another as a community. We are excited to continue building strong school partnerships, growing the Words First community and deepening the positive difference we make in the year ahead.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to last term’s successes. We look forward to another year of learning, connection and meaningful impact.