'We Aim To Give Every Child A Voice'

Surprise Box run inclusive small group sessions for 2–5-year-olds.

Created and run by Amanda and Matt, with over 30 years combined experience in various roles within mainstream and the SEND sectors, each session is carefully designed to be fully inclusive, targeting the promotion of children’s communication, attention, anticipation, and well-being.

We Focus On!

• Attention

• Anticipation

• Awareness

• Communication in all forms

• Repetition

• Small steps

• Taking risks

• Turn taking

• Inclusion

• Interaction

• Well-being

The Impact of our sessions on the development of the children:

To communicate we need to have attention, but this requires the child to take a risk in order to learn something new, which can be difficult. We aim to provide an irresistible platform to help the children take that risk. With singing and signing (Makaton) we create rhythm. This rhythm is repeated and aided by visual support and simple language, allowing the children to have the time to absorb the construction of words, critical to the development of communication. The format of our groups follow a predetermined routine to incorporate multiple areas of the EYFS. All of the skills learnt and developed throughout the Surprise Box sessions are transferable, providing the children with alternative ways to communicate and get their needs met. By being fully inclusive the development of skills obtained through our sessions create opportunities for children to thrive in multiple areas. We give them a voice; this voice creates prospects for relationship building and understanding. By learning through enjoyment in structured, fun sessions, this allows each child the time to process through visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, reading, and tactile learning styles. Focussing on what our children can do rather than what they cannot, increasing their motivation to learn.

We provide information and strategies for parents and carers around communication and behaviour.