BEST resources
BEST: A language programme for young children with language disorder
Buy BEST resources online direct from Newcastle University
Newcastle University have published the complete BEST package. The complete toolkit includes a comprehensive manual and all the documentation, professionally published, to provide BEST to your clients.The BEST approach utilises toys, so you will need to put together a a BEST toy box in order top deliver the therapy. This is a set of easy to obtain children's toys and everyday objects.
There are even pre-prepared therapy aims for you to select and enter into the care plan template. This can then be shared with parents and carers, as well as nursery and school staff.
All of the documentation and equipment has been developed in a real children's speech and language therapy service, with feedback from parents, speech and language therapists and speech and language therapy assistants.
We think that you will find the BEST package is a complete solution.
BEST IN TEN EASY STEPS
A) PLANNING AND PREPARATION
1. Buy a BEST toolkit.
It contains all you need to understand the BEST programme, plan and run BEST groups.
Just add a toy box and download our other FREE! resources.
2. Put together a toy box
Joint attention between the adult leading the group and the children attending is key to the programme's success. Using dolls, toys and objects is a natural way to facilitate language.
BEST cannot be carried out using pictures alone.
List of dolls, toys and objects required to run a BEST group - put together your collection now FREE!
Download the BEST infection control guidance FREE!
3. Complete a BEST Eligibility Assessment for each child
Refer children who are not suitable for the BEST programme to other approaches which meet their needs.
The eligibility assessment is part of the BEST toolkit.
4. Complete a baseline assessment with each eligible child, including:
a) A comprehension assessment such as the New Reynell Developmental Language Scales*
*N.B. Not part of the BEST toolkit or BEST programme. Other language assessments are available.
b) A BEST baseline assessment, part of the BEST Toolkit.
5. Write a care plan for each suitable child and share this with parent(s)/carer(s), and any professionals working with the child such as a nursery teacher, children's centre staff member or special educational needs coordinator.
Download the BEST Care Plan Microsoft Word template and therapy aims documents FREE!
B) RUNNING THE BEST GROUPS
6. Carry out the sessions with a group of children
Remember that only children meeting the entry criteria should be considered for the group. Children with different profiles may require other approaches.
The BEST programme comes with a complete set of recording forms and assessments to monitor progress and evaluate outcomes. Buy these from the Newcastle University web site.
There are sixteen therapy sessions, ideally delivered two-three times per week.
7. Give the family a fun homework booklet at the end of each session.
Remember to highlight that it is the adults who talk about the pictures, and children join in when they are ready - Listen to learn!
Download the BEST homework booklets FREE!
There's one to give out at the end of each BEST therapy session.
N.B. Please don't attempt to deliver BEST using pictures alone. This will not be effective and will lead to poor outcomes for the children.
8. Motivate the children with a BEST star chart.
C) AFTER THE BEST GROUPS
9. Carry out an outcome assessment and then a post-treatment review for each child
Everything you need is in the BEST toolkit.
10. Get feedback
Whether it is for your own continuing professional development, feedback to a manger or a commissioner of services, feedback from parents and carers is really important and powerful.
Download the BEST Parents' and Carer's Feedback Form FREE!
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