> Communication

The Communication Team is made up of specialist practitioners including a Lead Teacher who is an SLE for communication, two Communication Assistants and a Resources Assistant. We have developed our skills through specific and targeted training enabling us to offer the highest quality total communication environment. Each pupil is offered a personalised communication system from choice of a range of AAC. We are also able to offer bespoke training enabling ongoing CPD for staff, this ensures we offer the best environment for communication to all of our pupils. 

Grace – Communication Lead
I have been a teacher in specialist schools for over 19 years supporting children with severe and profound learning difficulties. One of my roles here at Mill Water school is to lead the communication team, I also teach in the early years class. I enjoy working with professionals and parents alongside the communication team to ensure all of our pupils are immersed in a communication rich environment and supported on the next step of their communication journey. As a team we support and develop best practice of total communication through staff training, developing confidence and empowering all of the adults that work alongside our learners.
Emma – Communication Assistant
Hello. My working life has focused on enabling both children and adults who have a learning difficulty to communicate as independently and meaningfully as possible. I have over 10 years’ experience as a Teacher in Special Schools and have also spent time supporting adults in residential and supported settings. My role at Mill Water involves supporting pupils and staff throughout the school to maintain and develop their communication in class, helping families to maximise communication opportunities at home, facilitating whole school communication projects and delivering staff training.
Jess - Communication Assistant
Hello, I have enjoyed a varied career within SEN education, working for several SLD and MLD schools and a unit for Deaf pupils, developing and delivering communication interventions and training, supporting young people and their families in education settings, at home and in the community. I now work within the 2 EYFS classes here at Mill Water, supporting our youngest children at the very start of their communication journey. I am lucky to be class-based 4 days a week, enjoying the challenge of finding and creating creative, engaging, communication opportunities through play-based learning. I work with the class teams to build the children’s intent to communicate, their receptive and expressive language skills, and social interaction and play skills, all based on relationship building and a shared sense of fun!
Amanda – Resources Assistant
Hi, my name is Amanda. My background is in Early Years specialising in SEND, in particular, children with communication difficulties and behaviour difficulties. I have spent much of my working life in preschools supporting either an individual child or working with groups encouraging good communication skills. My main focus at Mill Water is supporting the children through the use of AAC.