Early Years Intervention Programme
Seedlings & Sunflowers
Our Seedlings and Sunflowers groups make up our Early Intervention programme here at Sólás. The Early Intervention programme is part of the Belfast Wide Early Years project and our aim is to support those children who are identified as having significant difficulties in their development, including fine motor skills, speech, language and social communication and/or sensory processing. Liaising with our link Speech and Language therapists and Occupational therapists, as well as Educational Psychologists, we use play as a means of encouraging individual development in key areas as well as preparing children for the beginning of their educational journey.
Our link therapists visit once a month to assess the children’s development, advise staff on support strategies and engage with parents through workshops. We take a child-centred approach, always following the individual child’s lead and understanding that children learn best through play. All children access a range of activities from arts and crafts, sensory play, sensory room, outdoor play, circle time, music and stories.
Seedlings
We currently support 18 Seedlings families from the Belfast area, across 3 groups of 6 children. Children must be between the ages of 2 and 3 years, and typically will have been identified by family support workers, health visitors and other professionals as not meeting their developmental milestones. Each session is supported by 3 intervention staff (ratio of 1:2), and on occasion we have volunteers and placement students from education, psychology and childcare backgrounds.
Sunflowers
Currently we support 12 families from the Belfast area in our Sunflowers group, across 2 groups of 6 children. Children are between the ages of 3 and 4 years and will be awaiting assessment for their educational statement of needs, awaiting finalisation of their statement or have not found a school placement which is suited to their needs. The Sunflowers group provides much needed educational support for those children who would otherwise be without a nursery placement. Like in Seedlings, these sessions are supported by 3 intervention staff (ratio of 1:2), with the addition of volunteers and placement students on occasion.
Preschool
Sólás currently provides a non-statutory preschool provision. Preschool room currently supports 8 children, with children’s needs including speech and language disorder or delay, Autistic, emotional and behavioural problems, and moderate or severe learning difficulties. Our preschool room provides a stimulating and supportive play-based learning environment for children.
Preschool delivers the NI Preschool curriculum, through adapting a variety of suitable learning opportunities for each child. Preschool room sessions are supported by 4 support staff, keeping in line with our early year's ratio of 1 adult to 2 children, with the addition of volunteers and placement students on occasion. Through discussion with parents, observations and working closely with other professionals supporting children within the preschool room, we tailor the support offered to suit the needs of the individual child.
Where appropriate we use a range of visuals to support the children’s understanding of their day, and support communication and language development. We also strive to support the development of attention and communication skills. These include strategies such as; PECS (picture exchange communication) and Attention Autism.
Stay & Play Group
Sólás Stay & Play group offers families with additional needs a chance to come together, connect and communicate with others. This is a relaxed, friendly, and playful group, offering a range of play experiences, advice, and guidance to parent/ carers of young children with additional needs (pre and post diagnosis). The group meets every Thursday from 12.15pm to 1.15pm, during term time at Sólás main site, and is suitable for children 1 year to 4 years.
Early Years Summer Scheme
Early Years Summer Scheme runs for 2 weeks over July & August. Referrals are open to children with additional needs, and who will be starting Nursery or P1 in the September to follow. Children enjoy a range of activities including trips to the beach, park, soft play as well as sessions with art/music therapists, special visitors, picnics, and lots of play & fun. Due to high demand for the scheme, families will only be offered one week of the scheme.