Alf's Journey

Speech Sound Mapping has been identified as the ideal solution for Alf, who was unable to understand 'letters and sounds' through synthetic phonics. Following a private consultation with Emma Hartnell-Baker, the initial focus was on his poor phonemic awareness and lack of engagement with written language. As a result, Speech Sound Mapping was written into his Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). The EHCP is a legally binding document used to outline the specific educational, health, and social care needs of children with significant learning differences or disabilities. By including Speech Sound Mapping in Alf’s EHCP, it becomes a legal requirement for this approach to be implemented, ensuring he receives the tailored support necessary to meet his needs.

To kick it off 'Miss Emma' delivered a 4 week 'Train-the-Trainer' programme, in order to show at least one member of staff what to do with Alf. So the online support was as much about training a TA as watching what Alf was doing,  and adapting accordingly. Unlike a 'programme' Speech Sound Mapping' is a system of delivering personalised learning and become aware of what THAT child needs to thrive. Miss Emma offers a unique teacher training opportunity by creating 'voice-over' videos after reviewing the video footage - those being trained record the sessions. If the sessions aren't recorded there can be a huge disconnect as we only know what we know! When TAs and teachers undertake activities they may not know what they did well, and what could have been improved.      
 

In Australia, Miss Emma became known for working with children 'blind' in front of an audience—without being given any prior information about the child. Within minutes, she would identify learning blocks and demonstrate strategies to overcome them. This hands-on, responsive approach to teacher training is highly distinctive. Most teacher training focuses on theory, with little attention given to observing children who are struggling or learning how to address their specific needs. Instead, teachers are often trained to follow a set programme where all children are taught the same content, in the same way, and at the same pace. This one-size-fits-all approach leaves many children struggling, yet teachers are rarely shown why. They are generally left to figure it out for themselves. When a child is struggling, things can become tricky for the teacher. They may disengage, act out, or resist more of the same teaching methods (the typical response being to repeat the same lessons in a smaller group or on a 1:1 basis). Speech Sound Mapping, however, facilitates a focus on PREVENTING difficulties by understanding each child, so that if issues arise teachers recognise the root cause of the difficulty and can tailor the teaching to meet the child’s unique needs.
 

The 'Train-the-Trainer' approach can feel confronting, as teachers are not used to being observed so closely. That said, the person working with Alf did an exceptional job! It’s unfortunate that the training didn’t continue, but Alf adores Miss Emma and sends her regular video messages! Alf has shared that his dream is to become a YouTuber, and we are working together to make that happen. He plans to create videos at home to show other children how they can use Speech Sound Mapping at home. These clips will not only support his own learning but also inspire other children on their reading journeys!