Book number two and exciting developments for HCT’s Helene Somerville
Helene Somerville, a specialist speech and language specialist, who works for HCT, collaborated with two other highly specialist Speech and Language Therapists to create a sound play book, ‘The Sound We Found’ which is designed to facilitate speech sound development in babies and young children.
Helene, originally from Jersey but now living in Clifton, Bedfordshire, has worked for HCT since June 2002 in clinics, schools and Children’s Centres and has always been an advocate of using books and stories as part of therapy sessions.
The first book, The Sound We Found, attracted widespread attention and earned positive feedback in the UK and abroad. The Welsh Government supported the publication and funded the translation of the book to create Pa Synau Glawaf i? And recognising the need to reach as many young children as possible through sound play, arranged for both books to be made readily available to families, at no cost, through their local library service.
Now the authors are delighted to announce the publication of ‘Pa Synau Welwn Ni?’, a Welsh version of their second sound play book, ‘The Sound We See’ launched on Monday 25th September 2023.
The second book has already generated a great deal of positive feedback from families, speech and language therapists and other professionals involved in early years education. It has achieved the aim of providing a fun and accessible way of enabling parents and early years staff to model speech sounds to young children, thus promoting early speech sound development.
Deputy Minister for Social Services Welsh Government, Julie Morgan, said:
“I am pleased we have supported the publication of The Sound We See / Pa Synau Welwn Ni? and funded the translation of the book to ensure accessibility.
“This supports the commitments of our Talk With Me: Speech, Language and Communication (SLC) Delivery Plan, increasing universal access to bolster and promote the importance of playing, engaging and talking with children in the early years.
“I hope all parents and carers in Wales will enjoy sharing The Sound We See / Pa Synau Welwn Ni? together with their children as they continue to develop and thrive.”
The series of books is beginning to attract international attention with Spanish versions of the book being due out on 9th October.
Available in all online bookshops.
