At Castle Lane we are always looking for ways in which to increase the knowledge and skills of our staff team.
And we are particularly passionate about the importance of effective communication. So much so that we recently offered the team a speech and language training course delivered by a private speech and language therapist.
The course was hugely helpful in giving staff additional confidence, helping them understand why we do what we do. And as a result, we have since booked Karen Royle BSc (Hons), MRCSLT, MASLTIP, reg HCPC, an Independent Speech and Language Therapist, to regularly visit our setting in order to give staff strategies and methods to help support all our children.
We recognise that early intervention is key in every child’s development. And with NHS services very over stretched at present, we feel that supporting our children in this way is incredibly important.
As a private speech therapist, Karen delivers one session a month in each room, offering support to both children and staff.
Karen recently visited our Forest School setting, to observe our preschool children. In her feedback on the session, she wrote:
“Thank you so much for this morning. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed my visit to forest school. I think the space that you have there is wonderful and it is such a calm and restorative place to be. Please thank Ry, Loretta and Sarah for making me so welcome. Their passion for learning outdoors is really inspirational.
“The children were fully immersed and engaged for the whole session in a way that can’t be replicated indoors. I loved how they were independent in their play and exploration, and did not seek adult support but trusted their own instincts. In terms of the development of their understanding, risk assessment and problem-solving, what could be better?!
“I really love how nothing was over-scheduled for the children, and they could just be in the space with the time to develop their own interests and build on their own curiosities. Group time was lovely and I enjoyed how the children sat together around the fire. I also enjoyed the group activity where the children were encouraged to listen out for the “deer” with the freedom to act on their thoughts and work together to make team decisions.
“I enjoyed spending time with the children individually and in small groups, listening to their ideas, I found the children were more relaxed and communicative in this environment, and it is lovely to see this and be part of that experience with them.
“Forest school is such a wonderful environment for children to learn and is full of language rich opportunities. I only wish all children had access to this.
“I wish every working day could include forest school! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do that this morning.”
Interested in booking your child into our
Forest School?
Contact the office to find our more, including
how to fund your nursery place.
