Speech, language and communication
At Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre, a qualified Speech and Language Therapist works across the school to support pupils’ speech and language development.
External resources and support materials
Therapy
At Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre, a trained practitioner delivers therapeutic interventions such as Drawing and Talking Therapy and Sand Therapy to support pupils’ emotional well-being. Drawing and Talking Therapy, based on the work of Carl Jung and John Bowlby, is a safe and gentle method for children aged 5 and above to process emotional pain or trauma. Pupils attend 12 confidential sessions, each lasting 30 minutes, where they may choose to draw and talk. The therapy uses an attachment-based approach, encouraging children to express their internal world through drawings and storytelling language, helping them resolve conflicts and heal trauma in a non-confrontational manner.
Sand Therapy, suitable for children as young as 4 years old, functions similarly to Drawing and Talking Therapy and is designed as an early intervention to support well-being and complement specialist therapies. Both therapies occur in a consistent, safe environment, allowing children to process emotional difficulties symbolically without requiring artistic talent.
Additionally, group-based sessions focused on emotions and storytelling are conducted to enhance listening skills, peer interaction, and empathy. In these sessions, pupils draw on the same topic and have the option to share their pictures, promoting group interaction. The sessions aim to help pupils recognise and understand their emotions while realising that others have similar feelings. They provide a safe space for sharing experiences and connecting with peers facing similar challenges, such as those related to being looked-after children (LAC), bereavement, behaviour, or social issues. Through these interactions, pupils build supportive therapeutic relationships with both the practitioner and fellow group members, with all adults present actively participating.
