It takes two…

Communication in play partnership is 2 way. Your partner may not use verbal communication, but respecting and responding to your partners individual and unique communication idiosyncrasies is essential. Never underestimate understanding. Conversation does not have to be spoken. Always explain your intentions. Included in communication is choice making, giving options, adjusting or adapting as you go, and not worrying if a planned activity doesn’t go as you expected. Be prepared for tangents and curveballs!

Format: Interactive workshop + practical exploration

Who it’s for: Anyone supporting individuals with PMLD or SEND or those wanting to increase their confidence in communicating with their play partner.

Looking at life through ‘mirror play’ and intensive interaction.

We discuss the background and value of intensive interaction, any time, any place! Intensive Interaction is entirely person led. We encourage the building of playful partnership confidence to follow that lead by mirroring whatever behaviours, movement, sound, expression, body language is presented. Just the two of you in the moment as play partners. Intensive Interaction is shared communication creating shared interaction and shared attention.

Format: Practical, discussion-based workshop

Who it’s for: Anyone supporting individuals with PMLD or SEND, or those wanting to build inclusive communication skills

Takeaway: A confidence to seize the opportunity to engage in intensive interaction at anytime, anywhere.

Hands full of Rhyme and Sensory Story Massage.

We discuss and explore the role of positive touch within play and interaction. Touch can be requested, or rejected. Massage touch is completely different to touch needed for moving and positioning or personal care. Story massage and positive touch are interactions that can be calming and restorative

Format: Interactive workshop with practical demonstrations.

Who it’s for: Anyone supporting individuals with PMLD or SEND, or those wanting to build positive connection and partnership.

Takeaway: Simple, adaptable techniques that use positive touch to enrich everyday interactions

A Journey into Sound and Wellbeing

Our music workshop looks at the importance of how we use music for play, and the need to respond to individual likes and dislikes. We demonstrate how music can evoke feelings of happiness, but also sadness. Music can be used as cues, dance, cause and effect, choice making, humour and laughter, to stimulate or calm as well as just ‘being in the moment’. Spending time with a play partner builds an individual playlist, and a recognition of the right music for the right occasion. Choosing a range of genres is important – you never know who it is that particularly likes the Irish jig melodies or bagpipe music!

Using your voice for singing/chanting/rapping is all music. Develop call and response, build anticipation, make up musical stories and rhymes, beat bopping, jamming with instruments. Playfulness and music can’t help but go together.

Format: Experiential, self exploratory workshop.

Who it’s for: Anyone supporting individuals with PMLD or SEND, or those wanting a deeper discovery of the power of music.

Exploring the Power of the Resonance Board

A resonance board turns movement and sound into a rich sensory experience. This workshop shows how to adapt the board for each individual, creating opportunities for play, exploration, and expression. Through vibration, rhythm, and interaction, participants discover how the resonance board can amplify engagement and bring joy to shared moments.

Format: Practical, hands-on workshop

Who it’s for: Anyone supporting individuals with PMLD, or SEND, or those wanting to embrace using a resonance board within their home or setting.

Takeaway: Creative ways to use resonance boards to support communication, exploration, and fun

Looking at the World from the Inside Out

This workshop invites you to step into the lived experience of autism, exploring how the world can feel and be understood from the inside out. Through reflection, discussion, and practical examples, we’ll highlight the strengths, challenges, and unique perspectives that come with autism. The focus is on building empathy, breaking down barriers, and finding practical ways to create environments where autistic individuals can thrive.

Format: Interactive workshop with reflective and practical elements

Who it’s for: Anyone supporting individuals with PMLD, or SEND, or those wanting to build their confidence and embrace being playful with autistic individuals.

Takeaway: Greater awareness of autistic perspectives and practical strategies for more inclusive support

Its a Gaggle.

Good, comfortable and established team work is so important as a play partner. Everyone has different skills to contribute, and different ways of presenting themselves, but all equally valued. We use a practical activity that demonstrates the need for recognising and watching out for and supporting your team members, whether you are a natural leader or follower. Once participated, never forgotten – honk, honk!

Format: Interactive playful workshop.

Who its for: Anyone supporting individuals with PMLD or SEND, or those wanting to embrace and empower their teams.

Making sense of the senses

Not just the 5 known senses, but incorporating vestibular, proprioceptive and interoceptive too and the reasoning behind the importance of sensory play. We demonstrate how easy it is to become sensory treasure seekers from charity shops and Scrapstores. We include how to set up and deliver a sensory story, ideas and suggestions for sensory creativity, including messy and non-messy messy play. We encourage simplicity – and ways to make sense of the world around us.

Format: Interactive workshop.

Takeaway: understanding the full spectrum of senses and the impact they have on play.

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The importance of allowing time for your partner in play to process the expectation of the activity, especially if introducing something new. Over time the processing time will reduce with familiarity, repetition and anticipation. Our practical activity that demonstrates how crucial ‘The Wait’ is simple and effective – especially when a whole team is trained. The Can Can is involved – most appropriately endorsing that waiting will promote ‘I can can’.

Format: Interactive workshop

Takeaway: Fun innovative ways to ensure everybody’s processing time is respected.