Words First Ltd

26/01/2026

It’s our very first SENCO Celebration Week and we couldn’t let it pass without a special treat!

For this week only, our SENCO resource bundle is free.

It is packed with practical, usable resources that SENCOs can actually pick up and use!

If you are a SENCO, this one’s for you.
If you know a SENCO, please share it with them.

Register on our website and download it for free.

https://wordsfirst.uk/senco/

Happy SENCO Celebration Week!

26/01/2026

SENCO Celebration Week is here!

When we were planning our awareness calendar, we were surprised to see that while there were plenty of days recognising children, families, and professions across education and health, there was nothing to recognise SENCOs.

So, instead of creating a single post or marking a day, we created a WHOLE week.

This is our very first annual SENCO Celebration Week, and we’re excited to highlight the incredible work SENCOs do.

SENCOs work tirelessly behind the scenes. They advocate for children, support families, guide staff, and hold complex systems together. They are so often the unsung heroes in schools.

We hope you will help us spread the love by thanking the SENCO in your school, or the SENCO who supports your child. Let’s use this opportunity to make them feel special!

From all of us at Words First, thank you to every SENCO. This week, and every week, your work matters.

As part of SENCO Celebration Week, our SENCO bundle is free for all SENCOs on our website this week. Visit our SENCO page to grab yours!

https://wordsfirst.uk/senco/

24/01/2026

📢 International Day of Education: 250 Million Reasons to Act!

📚 Today, we celebrate the International Day of Education! 🎉

But let's remember: Over 250 million children and young people worldwide are still out of school. 💔

Education is a fundamental human right, a powerful engine for social mobility, and the key to a fairer world. Access to quality education transforms lives, yet for too many, it remains a distant dream.

In England, the rise in pupils with identified SEN (now over 1.7 million!) highlights the urgent need for robust support systems. 🧩

At Words First, we believe every child deserves an education they can access and thrive in. We partner with schools, providing evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Educational Psychology to remove barriers to learning.

🤝 By empowering SENCOs, teachers, and school leaders, we embed inclusive practices that support participation and learning for all.

Let's move beyond simply providing a place in a classroom to ensuring every child can truly engage, communicate, and learn! ➡️

https://wordsfirst.uk/international-day-of-education-every-childs-right-to-learn/

International Day of Education highlights why access to inclusive, supported learning matters for every child, including those with SEN.

22/01/2026

Our latest blog features Cherry-Beth, Clinical Specialist and Speech and Language Therapist, and Linda Bresgi, Educational Psychologist, exploring Alexithymia and its implications for children and young people.

Alexithymia is not a diagnosis. It is a trait linked to differences in identifying, understanding, and describing emotions. When it is not recognised, emotional distress may be misunderstood as behaviour, disengagement, or lack of motivation.

Linda and Cherry-Beth explore the core features of Alexithymia, the overlap with Autism, the role of interoception, and what this means for practice across education and health.

Read the full blog here: https://wordsfirst.uk/alexithymia-autism-and-mental-health/

21/01/2026

Last week we hosted this year’s first 'Developing Occupational Therapy Assistant Skills training for Teaching Assistants at our Peckham hub, and it was a huge success.

The session was led by Katy Dickson, Words First Principal OT and trauma informed practitioner, alongside Caron Vandecar, our Clinical Lead and SI-trained OT. The group was highly engaged throughout, with thoughtful discussion, practical insight, and excellent feedback shared from across the day.

The training introduced TAs to OTA informed ways of working that can be applied straight away in schools, while keeping roles clear and purposeful.

The day covered:

- Building rapport and engagement through simple, effective, fun right-brain activities

- Understanding the WF model for OT and the role of a Words First OT in schools

- Exploring the differences between a TA approach and an OTA approach

- Sharing how we align our OT practice with EEF guidance and effective TA deployment

- Discussion around what is observed in the classroom and looking at this through a 'needs' lens and what might be underlying certain 'behaviours'.

As part of the training offer, schools receive access to an in-house developed 10-week intervention These programmes can be delivered to individuals or groups across primary and secondary settings, with ongoing support from the school’s linked OT.

Through the discussions taking place, it highlighted the need to bring forth a 'trauma informed' approach to this work when engaging with students. Katy, provided an unplanned but bespoke session to the group in response to this need which also included a peak in to Dr Stephen Porges Polyvagal Theory.

A special moment in the day was being treated to a reading of Katy’s poem, The Tree & Me, A Polyvagal Poem, fully endorsed by Dr Stephen Porges and the founding members of the Polyvagal Institute. Bringing to life the importance of the nervous system and the placing the child at the centre of the work we do.

We cannot wait to do it all again, more training days, more great conversations, and more TAs heading back into schools feeling confident and ready with all the resources and support they need to run intervention programmes in their schools.

We are full of gratitude to the participating schools. We know that it is not easy to find cover to send TAs on training, and a massive thank you to those who attended and made it such a brilliant and generative day.

12/01/2026

The weather may be cooling, but at Words First we are just getting warmed up. ❄️➡️🔥

As our therapists head into their second week in schools for 2026, we are excited for the year ahead.

A year focused on meaningful impact, interdisciplinary working, continued professional development and strengthening partnerships with schools.

Fuelled by the successes of last term, we begin the year energised, connected and ready to keep children at the centre of everything we do.

https://wordsfirst.uk/a-new-year-at-words-first-building-on-last-terms-sizzling-successes/

17/12/2025

Our Words First Gift Lists are now free to download using code FESTIVE.

Two therapist made guides filled with meaningful, play based gift ideas that support communication, interaction and confidence.

Download both Gift Lists here:
https://wordsfirst.uk/shop/

11/12/2025

Our Communication Christmas Advent Calendar is now free to download.

Simple daily activities that support language, interaction and confidence at home or in school.

Download using code FESTIVE:

https://wordsfirst.uk/product/a-communication-christmas-advent-calendar-activity/

04/12/2025

We are excited to share the final video in this 3-part Shine a Spotlight Specialist Series:

🎥 Why We Communicate: Reasons for Communication - now live: https://youtu.be/mouDcFpIMCI

Communication is so much more than talking. It is how children connect, share experiences, and make sense of their world. In this final instalment of our three-part parent series, our Speech and Language Therapy team explore the reasons children communicate, and how everyday moments can be used to support meaningful interaction.

You’ll learn:
✨ Why communication is about connection, not just words
✨ How to recognise and respond to early communication attempts
✨ Simple strategies to build confidence and motivation
✨ Practical ways to create communication opportunities at home

A special thank you to Lee Lampen, our SaLT, for leading this video and for her thoughtful contributions to the entire series.

This video concludes our Words First Specialist Spotlight Series, created to support IDP Working in Education: Shared Understanding, Strong Collaboration. Each video offers practical, evidence-based guidance to help children thrive at home and in school.

Communication is about more than just words — it’s how we connect, share, and understand each other. In this final video of our three-part parent series, we ...

01/12/2025

What a night ✨
Our end of year party brought all the sparkle, all the laughs and all the festive energy.

Thames views, great food, mystery gifts and the best company.
Another evening that showed the real magic of our Words First community.

Here’s to this incredible team and everything we achieved this year 🥂

01/12/2025

Our end of year party was an absolute hit. The team arrived in full sparkle mode ✨ ready for festive cheer, mystery gifts and plenty of laughs. After a year of hard work and real impact, it was briliant to celebrate together.

With Thames views from Doggett’s Coat and Badge, great food and nonstop chatter, it was another evening that really showed the magic of our Words First community - the kind of night that reminds us why this team is so special.

Here’s to all of you for your dedication, your brilliance and the difference you make every single day. What a team! Cheers 🥂

28/11/2025

🌟 We are excited to release the next video in our Shine a Spotlight Specialist Series:

🎥 A Parent’s Guide to Developing Communication Skills Through Play

Play is more than just fun. It helps children explore, connect and communicate. In this video, our wonderful SaLT, Lee, explains how parents can use play to build speech, language and confidence every day.

You’ll discover:
✨ Why play is key to language and learning
✨ How to follow your child’s lead
✨ Simple ways to build communication naturally through play

Here are five easy tips you can try today:
✅ Get down to your child’s level
✅ Follow their lead
✅ Comment instead of question
✅ Reduce instructions
✅ Make it fun

This video is part of our Words First Spotlight Video Series on IDP Working in Education: Shared Understanding, Strong Collaboration. It is full of practical, evidence-based advice to help children thrive at home and in school.

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBj8_jUL83w

Play isn’t just fun — it’s how children learn about the world and develop essential communication, social, and thinking skills. In this video, we explore how...