Verbo Voices – December edition
News & Views . 6 January 2025
Read on for our December issue of Verbo Voices. If you’d like our updates sent directly to you, you can subscribe here.
Welcome to Verbo Voices: Your end-of-year 2024 newsletter.
In this special edition, we’re reflecting on the highlights of the past few months and giving you an exclusive glimpse into the exciting plans we have for Verbo in 2025.
Let’s dive in!
Vocabulary Fun
Add a twist to classic vocabulary games to engage learners of all ages!
For those celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, you can use vocabulary linked to these occasions. For those not celebrating at this time of year, you can use vocabulary linked to winter clothing, weather or polar animals.
For Early Years, try Eye Spy with holiday-themed categories like festive colours, symbols or decorations found in the room.
Primary pupils can enjoy Guess The Drawing with similar festive or winter-themed categories, adding excitement and creativity to their learning.
For secondary-aged pupils, try the Alphabet Game. Choose categories like holiday traditions, winter activities or seasonal objects to make the activity fun, inclusive and educational for all.
4 Top Tips for Seasonal Inclusivity
1. Visual Timetables: With changes to daily routines during the end of the school year, visual timetables are an especially helpful tool. They provide clarity and support children in understanding what to expect each day.
2. Sensory-Friendly Events: When planning holiday-themed activities, consider sensory differences. Loud music, flashing lights and noisy items like Christmas crackers or party blowers may be overwhelming for some. Adapting these elements can create a more inclusive atmosphere.
3. Quiet Spaces: Offer a calm, quiet space where children can step away if they need a break from busy events or celebrations. This simple option can make end-of-year celebrations more accessible for everyone.
4. Verbo Countdown: Use our Countdown Calendar to support children in preparing for the return to school after the holidays.
2024 Highlights
Our Growing Community
What an incredible year it’s been! Verbo’s community has grown to include over 800 schools and almost 7,000 staff users—and we couldn’t be more thrilled. From teachers and SENCOs to SaLTs and other education professionals, we’re honoured to support such a passionate and dedicated network.
Here’s to an even bigger and brighter 2025!
Events
This year, we were lucky enough to meet so many of you at events like the Childcare and Education Expo, nasen LIVE, the Transforming SEND and AP Conference, the TES SEND Show and The Education Show in Cardiff.
Curious about where to find us in 2025? Keep an eye on our News and Views page for announcements about upcoming events!
Sharing Our Views
We were proud to contribute to the Commission on the Future of Oracy Education’s call for evidence, as they prepared their ‘We need to talk’ report.
Released in early October, the report calls for a raft of urgent, fundamental shifts in the way communication skills are taught to children. We’re excited to be part of this vital conversation, read our full response to the report here.
In The News
Our team of Speech and Language Therapists has been busy sharing insights in some top education publications. Here are a few standout features:Seven Signs of Speech, Language, and Communication Needs (SLCN) and How to Support Them in the Classroom – Schools Week
SLCN: The Power of Play – Headteacher Update
A Sneak Peek at 2025
Big things are coming to Verbo next year and we can’t wait to share them with you! Here’s a taste of what’s in store:
- Occupational Therapy: Occupational Therapy is joining Verbo! We will be releasing handwriting skills content first, so keep an eye out for additional screener questions, personalised targets, bitesize intervention videos and staff training webinars!
- Expanded Early Years content: Building on the success of our Early Years launch in June, we’ll be enhancing this section of the platform with even more resources to empower educators in developing their pupils’ speech, language and communication skills.
As always, please do get in touch with us if there is anything that you would like to see on the platform.
Thank you for being part of the Verbo community this year. We look forward to continuing this journey with you in 2025.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year!
The Verbo Team