News & Events

 Watch out for the Spring newsletter coming up after half term!

NEWS!

Speech and Language symposium success

PRESMA were delighted to be invited to provide one of the workshops at the “Making 0-3 count” symposium at UEA
where over 200 practitioners working with young children from across East Anglia met to discuss supporting the development of communication skills in children up to three years of age. The event was organised as part of the ‘Hello!’ campaign, which is running
throughout 2011, aiming to make people aware of the importance of children developing good communication skills.

Jean Gross, the Government’s ‘Hello!’ campaign Communication Champion and Faith Cross, a nationally-recognised expert on Language, Communication and Attachment were the keynote speakers and their presentations were fascinating – Look them up on google!

Jennie Vitkovitch, UEA’s Speech & Language Therapy Course Director, who organised the symposium said: “Sharing best practice is essential if we are to help children and young people effectively in the essential life skill of communication. I think this symposium has made a valuable contribution in our region.”

Let’s Connect” Art Exhibition

Did you see PRESMA at the “Let’s Connect” Art Exhibition in The Forum on 15^th November?  We were delighted to support the Speech &Language Therapists from Upton Road Children’s Centre in their Hello! 2011 National Year of Communication competition. 
The campaign aims to encourage children & young people’s communication development in homes, nurseries and schools across the country
and Natalie Charlton and Becky Hart decided it would be fun to ask some of their young friends to create some artwork based on what they think good communication means.  Our PRESMA artwork was based around MUSIC and we had 6 absolutely fantastic entries on display
from Ben, Simon, Rosa, Felix, Poppy and Sebastian.                                                                                 

Thank you all so much for joining in – I hope you can manage the publicity!

The PRESMA Christmas Party

(by a first time Dad)

Firstly I have to say what a really nice time I had at the PRESMA Christmas Concert. I suppose I was expecting the soap opera clich of a concert descending into chaos with jelly in the light fittings and parents coming to blows but it was in fact a very professional production. I also know it's not going to do my street cred any good but to see so many little people obviously enjoying the music, singing and joining in with the songs bought a bit of a lump to the old throat. The teachers have obviously worked really hard all year to create such a nice atmosphere that even with a packed house of what could have been unruly toddlers, all were on their best behaviour. My little girl who, at the time, was only just 18 months old has really taken in all the different songs and was keen to show everyone what to do in the marching bit and help Daddy with instructions on what came next in the songs and of course polish off as many of the refreshments as possible offered by the kind volunteers.

Personally I particularly enjoyed the slightly reluctant Santa who had to hand out the presents to the children at the end, lucky he had a false beard as I'm not sure he was old enough to shave, the children still thought he was awe inspiring though!

All in all I can recommend getting your tickets early for next year but do remember to bring a cushion, the wooden floor can be a bit hard on the senior posterior.

Ian Dutson