Kinder/School Therapy and Consultation
Kinder/School Support
Helping Hands offers therapy services in kindergartens, childcare centres and schools, supporting children to access the academic and social opportunities provided by their educational environment. Our centre acknowledges the importance of providing support and services in educational settings where children are expected to attend. Our therapists use these opportunities to develop skills that have been identified by educators as being integral to an individuals future schooling.
Kinder/School Support
Therapists aim to enhance connection, participation and positive learning experiences by building independence and confidence with self-regulation, social connection and independent life skills. Therapists work collaboratively with the child’s family, multidisciplinary team and educators to implement individualised strategies and accommodations that are practical for the child’s specific learning environment.
Examples of the services that may be provided in this setting are:
Positive Behaviour Management
Therapists work alongside educators to identify the underlying causes of behaviours of concern. Therapists implement proactive preventative strategies and/or direct the child to alternative safe ways to meet their needs in the educational setting.
Social Participation
Therapists strive to support connection and inclusion in the educational setting, while honouring the child’s individuality. Therapists support the child to participate in mutually enjoyable socialisation and to foster safe and reciprocally respectful relationships.
Self - regulation
Therapists collaborate with educators and the child’s allied health team to reduce barriers to learning and social connection that can occur due to dysregulation. Therapists support the child to understand and safely advocate for their needs in the classroom and empower them to implement individualised regulation strategies that are functional and effective for their educational setting.
Emotional Resilience
Therapists support the child to identify and understand their emotions in the education setting and implement regulation strategies to manage feelings of anxiety and distress that may occur in relation to academic and school tasks. The development of these skills builds emotional resilience and self-esteem.
Life Skills
Therapists work collaboratively with the child’s allied health and educational teams to implement functional strategies and accommodations that support the child’s confidence and independence with life skills. Examples include eating, toileting and self-care. Therapists can provide specific scaffolded support with the life skills embedded throughout the school day, generalising skills learnt in other therapies and reducing care needs required by educational staff.
Functional Communication Skills
Therapists support the child and their educational team to achieve autonomous and effective communication within the classroom and outdoor play settings. This may include working with the Helping Hands speech pathology team or private speech pathologists, to support multi-modal communication and the implementation of high and low technology Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) in educational settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Personalised Support
A therapist can offer individualised support based on the child’s unique needs, helping them to understand instructions, complete tasks, and stay engaged with the curriculum. They can also help manage and redirect challenging behaviours, fostering a more positive learning environment for the child and their peers.
2. Enhanced Learning Experience
A therapist can implement specific accommodations, such as modified teaching strategies or sensory breaks, to help the child access the curriculum more effectively.
3. Improved Social Interaction
A therapist can support the child in interacting with peers, helping them navigate social situations and build relationships.
4. Emotional Support
The presence of a therapist can provide a sense of security, reducing anxiety and help the child feel more comfortable in the classroom setting. They can offer strategies and support for managing emotions and stress, contributing to a more positive classroom experience.