An eight-week programme delivered by the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust has helped Primary One pupils at Christ the Redeemer Primary School in West Belfast develop their speech, language and communication skills.

The Building Together programme used structured activities based on the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar to support children with speech, language and communication needs. Sessions included story time followed by table-top crafts that followed visual schedules.

Speech and Language Therapist Jayne Parkhouse said the programme involved staff workshops, parent training and group sessions with the children. She noted that children who took part had made progress and formed friendships.

Parent Niamh Tierney said her five-year-old son Luan now looks forward to the sessions and has become more eager to interact. She added that Luan enjoys the story time and wants to repeat the activities at home.

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator Claire Doherty said the collaboration has allowed staff to track and monitor the children's progress. She said the children who completed the programme are now ready to move into Primary Two.

Doherty said the structure and pace of the sessions helped build the children's confidence and self-esteem. She said the programme is a sharing of good practice that could benefit other schools.