Narrative Intervention Programme

Dr Victoria Joffe is a specialist speech and language therapist and senior lecturer in developmental speech, language and communication impairments in the Department of Language and Communication Science at City University, London. She is also programme director of an innovative MSc degree in Joint Professional Practice: Language and Communication, run in conjunction with the Institute of Education.

• Specifically designed for older children and young adults, this practical language programme was created by a specialist speech & language therapist with input from secondary school teachers and students. It focuses on enhancing the understanding and expression of stories in students aged from 8 to 18 with language and communication difficulties, and aims to: Create an awareness of how storytelling can be used to enhance learning in school and social interactions in school and home environments. Facilitate storytelling. Enhance the joy and enjoyment in telling stories. Identify different types of narratives and provide examples for each type. Encourage effective listening and attention skills. Examine different means of making story production more interesting through vocal variety, body language and print. Encourage the use of the story planner in planning and structuring essays in the classroom and for homework.

"Victoria Joffe's exciting new resource is aimed at supporting students in secondary school to develop their understanding of narrative. Her passion for supporting students with SLCN is clearly reflected by the way that she has combined a series of structured session plans and relevant resources with research to underpin the rationale for such an intervention. The pack includes an accompanying DVD containing pictures, templates and frameworks to support activities which have been imaginatively illustrated... The series of sessions follow a consistent and routine approach to enable learners to access their aims in a fun way - a message which is at the heart of this intervention." — Afasic News