Amanda is the founder and creator of Words First Ltd, the Reading and Language Circuit Model™ and the Words First Approach™. She completed a BSc (hons) in 2001, MSc in speech and language therapy (with distinction) in 2005 and an MA in dyslexia (with distinction) in 2007. Amanda’s skills in speech and language therapy combined with leadership have resulted in the development of the company that has reached thousands of children in schools, and hundreds of students seen privately through the Kids First Centre division of Words First.

My name Romy-Lee. I am the Clinical lead at Kidsfirst Clinic. Together with a team of committed therapists, we will embark on providing child focused evidence-based therapy. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, the clinic aims to provide holistic therapy supporting children and families.

I have 27 years of clinical and training experience as a paediatric occupational therapist with extensive experience in working with children with sensory processing difficulties, ASD and a broad range of learning and physical difficulties. I qualified in 1996 with a BSC in Occupational Therapy. After obtaining my degree, I successfully completed the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board Exam and spent 2 years working in the USA extending my experience and knowledge in paediatrics. During this time, I privileged to be awarded honorary citizenship by Clayton Ezell, the then mayor of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA.

During 2011, I was trained in Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut training (a sound-activated vestibular visual protocol), Move to Play – Play to Talk (building patterns and partnerships in play) in the USA and completed my Ayres’ Sensory Integration Certification and Sensory Intelligence Adult Practitioners course in 2012.

I have extensive training in learning difficulties including dyspraxia, dysgraphia and visual processing difficulties, and have conducted research into these specific learning difficulties.

I am HCPC registered and a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapy.

Hello my name is Tayla, I studied at the University of Cape Town and completed my undergraduate Honours degree in Speech and Language Pathology in 2017. Additionally, I have completed my DIR: Floortime professionals course and am a qualified DIR: Floortime practitioner. I am also pursuing continued professional development in theory and practice of Sensory Integration.

After graduating, I spent 2 years working in South Africa’s public sector within a large tertiary hospital. This was an invaluable experience as I had the opportunity to work with children and adults with an array of difficulties. Thereafter, I spent a year working at our sister company the Kids First Clinic SA where I primarily worked with early years children.

I started working in the United Kingdom for Words First in 2021, with my particular areas of interest including, social communication, sensory integration and early years. I feel passionate about intervention taking an interdisciplinary approach and ensuring that each child and their family has access to individualised, holistic care to assist them in reaching their utmost potential within all areas of life. As I currently work primarily at the Kids First Clinic, I am afforded the opportunity to work closely with each child and their family, tailoring their targets specifically to their areas of need and ensuring all team members around the child can work effectively together in achieving these. Working within Words First has given me access to a wealth of knowledge by learning from other SaLT’s within the team and ensuring continuous development throughout my career.

I love trying to find creative ways to engage and interest clients during our sessions, this might include sensory boxes filled with rainbow rice or pasta, and in my spare time I enjoy cooking and baking. If you had to call my best friend and ask her to describe me, I think she would describe me as loyal, caring and accountable.

After graduating with an undergrad degree from the University of South Africa in a Bachelor of Arts (Health Sciences and Social Services in Psychological Counselling) in 2017, I moved on to complete a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology. After graduating from this Honours degree in 2019, I dedicated my time to facilitating and supporting a young man with special needs. In January 2021, I began my journey as a school counsellor at Oakley House School in Cape Town, South Africa. Here, I provided counselling services to learners and staff who were experiencing a range of emotional, social and psychological difficulties to help them bring about effective change and enhance their well-being. It was at this point that I enrolled in a Postgraduate Certificate in Education through the Cornerstone Institute in Cape Town and graduated at the end of 2022.

With a longstanding passion for working and supporting children and adolescents with a diverse range of needs, one of the areas I am most passionate about is holistic and integrative counselling. This approach sees a person as a whole, integrated individual, rather than looking at their health or psychological concerns as separate issues. My passion for holistic psychology stems from my passion to support children and adolescents in their journey to grow, heal and change. Being naturally compassionate, nurturing and dedicated, I am confident in my ability to connect with children and adolescents in meeting their needs. I am confident in my ability to provide a counselling space that is built upon empathy, sensitivity and unconditional positive regard.

I studied online through the University of South Africa where I obtained an undergrad in Psychology and Linguistics in 2019. I then went on to complete a postgraduate certificate, followed by a post graduate diploma in Play Therapy and, during this time, have worked at various schools ranging from primary mainstream, an NGO, and specialist provisions.

During my studies I obtained a learn to swim qualification and, before moving to the UK, worked at a swim school for almost 6 years. I have a passion for working with children and have always known that I would end up in a field where I am able to help them in their development in some way. Being around children almost every day, I strongly believe that an element of fun is vital in allowing children to grow and develop and this is why I fell in love with the idea of Play Therapy. Play is the language of the child, and through play therapy, I believe that every child can find their voice, their strength, and their path to healing. At the centre of my practice is a core belief that a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation to effective therapy and believe that this is achieved through authenticity, acceptance, empathy, and trust.

M.Sc Biomedical Science

Hi, my name is Hannah and I’m new to Kids First Therapy Centre, taking over from Emma as Practice Administrator.

I have a degree and Masters in Biomedical Science and worked in this field until I had my children. I have two daughters aged 6 and 4. My eldest has Angelman Syndrome which includes severe speech disorder, so I have a connection with Speech and Language Therapy on a personal level.

The book that has had the biggest impact on me is probably The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. It was one of the first books I remember reading completely independently and it made me fall in love with books. I was completely mesmerised by the magic of it!

If my friends had to describe me in 3 words it would probably be thoughtful, organised, and caring.

Mary joined Word First in 2015 working as a Speech and Language therapist in primary mainstream schools. She has always found the link between language and literacy development fascinating and intertwined. In 2017, Mary qualified with a Level 7 Post Graduate Certificate in dyslexia, which qualified her to undertake dyslexia assessments, tuition and training.

Mary currently works with pupils aged 4-16 years within primary and secondary schools using her knowledge and skills about language and literacy to support students’ progress. Mary’s aim is to deliver fun, multi-sensory targeted lessons which focus on utilising the child’s strengths to enable them to realise their potential.

BA (Hons); MA Literacy Learning & Literacy Difficulties; PGCE; PGCSEND; Dip SpLD (Level 7); Assessor for Access Arrangements (CCET + AAC)

Hello my name is Linda.

Having completed my PGCE at the University of Roehampton in 1998, I decided to pursue my keen interest in teaching children with special educational needs and completed my Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties at the Hornsby International Dyslexia Centre in 2005, followed by a MA in Literacy Learning & Literacy Difficulties at University College London in 2011.

After gaining over 20 years teaching experience in both the state and independent sectors, including 15 years as a SENCo at three leading schools in London, I am incredibly excited to have now joined the team at Kids First. As a parent and teacher, I understand the challenges and concerns specific learning difficulties can create, both at school and at home, therefore helping parents to better understand their child’s learning profile and how they can support them is key.

As a literacy and Dyslexia specialist, I particularly enjoy carrying out diagnostic assessments as I believe them to be a first step in understanding where a child’s difficulties may lie, then use the results to help identify strengths, so as to build confidence and independence. I believe firmly in the proven benefits of designing and engaging multi-sensory based lessons to support a child’s learning.

My experience is that all learners have the ability to reach their potential, regardless of learning challenges and that the assessment process should be a positive one that allows learners to see how their strengths can help them overcome any specific learning difficulties.

In my spare time I love being outdoors, especially if it involves a long coastal walk with my energetic Springer Spaniel!

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist- SEMH & Neurodevelopment
B. SLHT, MSc in SLP, PGDip in Dev. Neuroscience & Psychopathology

Hello, my name is Chevonne. I studied at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and completed my bachelor’s degree in Speech, Language & Hearing Therapy in 2013. While working full-time in hospitals and special needs schools, I also completed my MSc degree in Speech-Language Pathology (cum laude) at the University of Cape Town before moving to the UK in 2019. In 2020, I completed my PG Diploma in Developmental Neuroscience & Psychopathology (with distinction) from University College London.

I work as a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in two schools, focusing on supporting students with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. I also have a special interest in neuro-developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I am currently theWords First Clinical Specialist for ADHD and run the ADHD Pathway to develop other therapists’ knowledge and skills in this area.
In addition, I am the Speech and Language Therapist at our Words First Autism Diagnostic Clinics, having completed my ADOS-2 training in July 2021. I work collaboratively with a Paediatrician and Occupational Therapist to offer monthly diagnostic clinics at our private clinic in Kenley. I enjoy working within a multidisciplinary team to explore various perspectives and factors that influence a child’s access to learning, communication and social interaction, aiming to help each child and every family to find the right support at the right time.

Consultant Paediatrician- General Paediatrics and Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics

MBBS, MRCPCH

Hello, my name is Ranjini. I trained in one of the top institutions in India, St. John’s Medical College Hospital, graduating with merit in MBBS (undergraduate) in 1999. I then completed my internship in India, before completing my post graduation in the UK, training and working in paediatrics since 2000.

I developed a special interest in endocrinology, working at the adolescent part of Great Ormond StreetHospital, at UCLH. I have published research articles on various topics in the Archives of Diseases ofChildhood and presented a paper at New York as a trainee on growth hormone in achondroplasia, and published in hot topics in Current Diabetes Reviews. I have presented with merit at Royal Society ofMedicine.

I worked with the eating disorders team at Oxford health as a paediatrician for a few years, before joiningWarwick hospital as a community paediatrician, as I realised that a lot of feeding difficulties were a result of undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder. My current interest is in all aspects of autism and I have been a part of the ARFID pathway being developed in Warwickshire. I have worked with children with autism for the last few years, dealing with associated medical problems like gut issues, sleep and restrictive eating etc.

I continue to work as a general paediatrician within the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust (Paediatrics) at the Horton Hospital.