Baby sessions are two hours in duration and toddler session run for three hours. Parents attend the baby and toddler group sessions with their children once or twice a week. Hearing aids are monitored and the importance of daily audiological management is demonstrated and explained. Basic strategies and fun-filled ideas for the development of the all- important attention, listening, preverbal and early language skills are demonstrated and discussed. One of the most important aspects, we believe, is the support that parents give to each other. It is at this stage in the baby/ toddler nursery that relationships are formed and friendships are developed among parents (and the children) which often last for many years.

The Nursery encompasses a wide range of activities that aim to engage the babies and toddlers and help stimulate their residual hearing to help nurture strong listening skills that will equip them in their journey to developing speech and language.

A typical day includes the following (see links for aims and objectives).

• CIRCLE TIME
• SNACK
• STORYTIME
• FREE PLAY
• MUSIC
• CREATIVE
• GOODBYE

Lessons are carefully planned and follow the objectives of the Birth to Three Matters Framework.
Every child has a key worker, who is a qualified Teach of the Deaf. Teachers of Deaf regularly assess, with parents, their child’s receptive and expressive language skills, as well as auditory development. These assessments form the basis of regular Individual Education Plans that target specific language and listening skills for development. In addition, every child has the opportunity of individual sessions with a Teacher of Deaf to help support and consolidate the work done in the nursery environment and develop listening and related language skills.

Parents are further supported through evening and day sessions which cover topics such as audiograms and hearing loss, listening and language development and Experience books. In this way, parents are given the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to foster their child's overall development, and to share with others the feelings, triumphs and obstacles their family is experiencing.

The Elizabeth Foundation is fully Ofsted accredited. To see a copy of our Ofsted report please click here.

To enquire about the Baby and Toddler Nursery please contact Shirley Metherell (Hampshire) at shirley.metherell@elizabeth-foundation.org.uk

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