Joanne Jones has been a speech and language therapist for over 25 years, working across the NHS and in private practice. Her professional journey has taken her from owning a nursery to working as a postnatal doula, and she has developed programmes that support both parents and educators in helping children reach their potential. Over the last four years, Jo has developed an ethos and programme called The Can-Do Approach, which supports parents, childcare and education professionals to focus on what children can do rather than what they can’t.
Vicky Robinson is an occupational therapist specialising in sensory integration. With over 25 years of experience, Vicky has worked extensively within the NHS, for charities, and in private practice, supporting schools and families. Her passion for paediatric occupational therapy, particularly in sensory processing, has driven her to develop tailored interventions that empower both families and educators to foster supportive, inclusive spaces that celebrate each child’s unique strengths.
Together, Jo and Vicky have spent the last few years combining expertise, helping children with sensory and communication needs flourish in all types of educational settings, and they have written the most amazing book to help everyone do just that, called Navigating Communication and Sensory Development for Every Child: The Inclusive Classroom Compass.
In this fascinating session, Jo and Vicki reveal how connection comes before communication goals and why sensory regulation is the foundation for successful learning. You’ll discover practical strategies to create inclusive classroom environments where every child can thrive, moving away from deficit-focused approaches to embrace what children can already do.
In this episode you’ll:
- Learn why giving children “airspace” and doing less can actually accelerate their communication development more than traditional target-focused interventions
- Discover the 5 C’s of the Can Do approach that builds confidence through what children can already achieve rather than pushing towards arbitrary goals
- Understand how to identify sensory seekers, over-responsive and under-responsive children through their behaviours rather than seeing these as problems to fix
- Explore simple classroom modifications like alerting zones and movement breaks that support regulation without requiring extra space or resources
- See why children who struggle with behaviour often need more movement, not punishment, and how this connects directly to their ability to communicate
Watch this episode to discover how connection and sensory awareness create the foundation for communication success in every child.
Links:
https://www.thehomeofcando.com/
https://www.facebook.com/candospeechtherapy
https://www.instagram.com/candospeechtherapy
The BLOOM Toolkit
Created by a UK children’s Occupational Therapist and Speech & Language Therapist, this gentle, neuro-affirming resource helps parents reduce sensory struggles and support communication at home.
The link to the BLOOM Toolkit is https://the-bloom-toolkit-24b7f5.circle.so/c/welcome-to-bloom/sensory-communication-toolkit
Episode Includes
- 1 Video
