Speech Bubbles

Concepts

• speech bubbles
• maidstone
• primary education
• speech
• drama-led intervention
• whole-body approach
• body language
• facial expression
• mental illness
• light of the covid-19 outbreak

Location

The County of Kent

Description

a drama-led intervention aimed at improving speech, language and communication (SLC) in selected school children in Key Stage 1 (five and seven-year-olds). Language is clearly a major vehicle for learning and critical to children's mental, social, emotional and intellectual development (Communication Trust, 2010). If SLC needs are not tackled in the early years, these issues can become increasingly difficult to address and are strongly linked in later life with mental illness, unemployment, relationship breakdowns, and offending. It is a whole-body approach to learning, recognising that body language, gesture, facial expression, eye contact, sounds, humour and words are all part of communication and that children learn best when they're in a positive state of mind. It promotes social and personal wellbeing through story and play, using theatre skills to encourage children to express themselves. Speech Bubbles is a drama-led intervention aimed at improving speech, language and communication (SLC) in selected school children in Key Stage 1 (five and seven-year-olds). Language is clearly a major vehicle for learning and critical to children's mental, social, emotional and intellectual development (Communication Trust, 2010). If SLC needs are not tackled in the early years, these issues can become increasingly difficult to address and are strongly linked in later life with mental illness, unemployment, relationship breakdowns, and offending. It is a whole-body approach to learning, recognising that body language, gesture, facial expression, eye contact, sounds, humour and words are all part of communication and that children learn best when they're in a positive state of mind. It promotes social and personal wellbeing through story and play, using theatre skills to encourage children to express themselves.

Total Quantity or Scope

In the light of the Covid-19 outbreak, there are serious concerns about the high demand for Speed and Language services. Disrupting the current provision and creating a gap in service provision due to mobilisation would further exacerbate this situation. Additional information: Whilst this service will not be extended, there is a possibility that this service could be recommissioned.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 80100000 - Primary education services

Legal Justification

On the 21 July 2022, The Kent County Council Cabinet, approved a decision to extend the Reconnect Programme to 31 March 2023 for specific areas of need, including School Readiness and Language Development. Trinity Theatre & Arts Centre are the only partner of Speech Bubbles in Kent. To become a certified Speech Bubbles partner providers are required to undertake training, and place-based assessment of the curriculum in practice in schools. To engage in a procurement Commissioners would not be able to complete a tender process for such a short-term contract. Regulation 32(2)(c) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 Negotiated Procedure without prior publication of a Contract Notice insofar as is strictly necessary where, for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting authority, the time limits for the open or restricted procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be complied with.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. **