Sizzling Successes from The Banana Velvets: Moments That Made a Difference

At Words First, success doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. More often, it’s found in the quiet but powerful shifts, a child finding their voice, a classroom becoming calmer, or a team discovering new ways to support one another. This year, Lisa’s team, The Banana Velvets,  have seen plenty of those moments. These are the Sizzling Successes: real stories, real children, and real impact.

A Voice Found Through AAC

Chloe has been supporting a student in a mainstream school to use a power-based AAC device. Once reliant on several adults due to emotional dysregulation, the student is now:

• Using his device in circle time to talk about the weather and emotions
• Asking for new, unexpected vocabulary
• Beginning to verbalise full phrases after hearing them via AAC
• Accessing phonics and maths through his device
• Showing noticeable improvements in emotional regulation

“This really highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary approach,” Chloe reflected.

Raising Awareness with Student Voice

At one of her schools, Caryn supported students in the language provision to create and deliver an assembly during Deaf Awareness Week. Focused on hearing loss, one student led the assembly herself, sharing her journey and feelings around being deaf. Another student is being supported to create and share an information sheet about cleft lip and palate. Some powerful steps towards inclusion beyond the therapy room.

Connection, Games and Growth in Peckham

Lisa brought the team together at the Peckham Hub for a CPD day packed with reflection and inspiration. Highlights included:

• Sharing wellbeing strategies
• Interdisciplinary Practice discussions
• Therapy game demos targeting a wide range of goals

The day wrapped up with the unveiling of a freshly stocked resource board—met with smiles, ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose.

From Reluctant to Ready

Michelle shared a heartwarming story about a Reception child who was initially reluctant to attend sessions. Everything changed after introducing arts and crafts. Within a week, the child was engaged and enthusiastic, a reminder that the right activity can transform a session.

A Journal Full of Growth

Working with a Year 6 student with Autism and Dyslexia, Olivia created a safe space for peer connection and reflection through a social communication group. The student filled out his HappySelf Journal daily, and at the end of term, proudly shared it:

“He went through it page by page with me,” Olivia said, “he was observed to regulate his emotions more effectively after that.”

PECS and Public Speaking

Eleftheria worked with a six-year-old who began the year using PECS to support her communication. Over time, she:

• Started forming full sentences using the sentence strip
• Combined PECS with spoken words
• Spoke a full sentence in a school assembly. This was her first time speaking aloud in front of parents

A milestone in her communication journey and confidence.

From Preverbal to Sentence Builder

Ada introduced AAC to a preverbal Autistic child, aiming to build understanding and vocabulary. By the end of the therapy block, the child was forming subject–verb–object sentences, with only occasional gestural support, a quiet but powerful leap in expressive language.

Sparking Change Through CPD

Pratiksha co-led a CPD session at Glebe School with her OT colleague. What began as a routine training turned into a two-hour, strategy-filled discussion. Inspired teachers acted quickly—one even received recognition from SLT during an observation the very next day.

Creating Safe Spaces and Whole-School Change

Seeing a need, Hathaway partnered with her SENCO to support students with trauma and SEMH needs. Her approach focused on:

• Building strong rapport in safe, nurturing spaces
• Supporting emotional and sensory regulation during and beyond sessions
• Offering in-the-moment co-regulation strategies for staff
• Helping students reintegrate into classrooms
• Strengthening the confidence and cohesion of the staff team

“I’m proud of how far we’ve come,” Hathaway said. “This is what I’m most proud of this year—seeing students thrive, feel understood, and enjoy school again.

These are just some of the stories emerging from The Banana Velvets this year. They reflect the creativity, compassion, and deep impact of school-based therapy. Whether through a breakthrough moment, a shift in engagement, or whole-school collaboration, each one moves a child closer to connection, confidence, and communication.