Small Group Programs for Children with Special Needs
Could your child benefit from the chance to learn with peers?
Kids First’s multi-disciplinary children’s health and education team offers a variety of small group programs that help special needs kids to develop communication , social and emotional skills.
Our small group programs are FaHSCIA approved services and include:
Bright Start – Ages 4-6
Bright Start offers children with additional needs the opportunity to receive the support and encouragement they need to make a smooth transition to school. Each week, Kids First's multi-disciplinary Early Intervention team, which includes highly experienced teachers, Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists, works together to provide Bright Start children with an engaging morning of learning, language, motor coordination and social skills support that helps prepare them for Kindergarten. Bright Start runs twice a week from 9.30am until 12 noon. Children can attend once or twice per week in accordance with their needs. Bri ght Start is particularly helpful for children who have become very used to individual therapy and need support to become familiar with the routines and conventions of learning in the company of peers. Bright Start also encourages the development of independence, self care and emotional resilience. Read more here...
Bright Sparks – Ages 3-4
Bright Sparks is a an early learning, language and social skills program that supports special needs children aged 3 to 4 as they prepare for success at pre-school. Offered in 90 minute sessions by Kids First's multi-disciplinary Early Intervention team, Bright Sparks helps children with additional needs to develop the language and play skills needed for integration with peers. The focus of Bright Sparks is on emotional and social regulation, communication and social interaction. Children are introduced to routines and are supported with visual strategies that make learning easy and fun. Bright Sparks is offered two time slots, early afternoon from 1.00pm to 2.30pm and morning 9.30am - 11.00am.
Socially Speaking Ages 5-7
Socially Speaking is a fun school holiday program that supports children with social language difficulties. Offered across three consecutive mornings, Socially Speaking provides children with practical support as they learn specific skills such as making eye contact, initiating appropriate greetings, joining in, taking turns and sharing the lead in conversations. Socially Speaking is particularly helpful for kids who struggle to read other children's social cues and has proven very effective in teaching specific strategies to help children with High Functioning Autism and other communication difficulties to achieve success in play situations at school and home. Socially Speaking is presented by Kids First's multi-disciplinary team of Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists and includes a wide variety of enjoyable games, role plays and activities devised to build children's interaction skills and confidence. A daily parent education session is also offered to assist parents as they support their child's developing social skills. Read more here....
Find out more...
Download Kid First's Early Intervention groups timetable for Term 1, 2012 here
For more information about Kids First's popular small group programs for special needs children, please call 9938 5419.
Approved Health Funds
