Bridging the GAPS (South)

Bridging the GAPS is designed to equip Kindergarten educators with the skills to foster strong speech, language, and phonological awareness in their students.

Introduction of the GAPs screening has given teachers a unique opportunity to capture an understanding of the language and phonological awareness needs of their youngest students, and to implement strategies to support their needs earlier than ever before.

This workshop begins with a focus on speech and what to do if students aren’t meeting their speech milestones.

From there, it looks at developing foundational language skills at Tier 1 and 2 level, before progressing to phonological awareness, so essential for early literacy development.

Participants will learn practical strategies to embed these skills into everyday classroom activities, ensuring all students have the best possible start to their learning journey.

The workshop also discusses further screening considerations to highlight any other areas which require specific monitoring and a framework for onward referral.

About our guest speakers:

Tania Innes

Tania has more than 25 years of experience working in early intervention and education settings.

She achieved a Bachelor of Speech Pathology with Honours in 1997, and a Graduate Certificate in Education in 2007.

Tania has worked in a variety of settings in Tasmania and the UK and has varied experiences in working with children of all ages and with a range of speech, language, communication and feeding needs.

Tania has worked in private practice since 2008 and has progressively developed a number of areas of special interest.

Clinically, she loves to work with young clients and their families, while consultatively, she has developed a special interest in preventative education, and in working with educators to impact a child's language learning in the classroom.

Tania is a Certified Practising Member of Speech Pathology Australia.

Clare Weare

Clare has over 20 years of experience working with students with special learning needs, and their families and educators, in Australia and the UK.

For 7 years, she worked as Director of Studies in a school for students with Specific Learning Disorders, and she currently works part time as a Learning Support Coordinator in a mainstream school.

She obtained a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) in 2001, a Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management in Education in 2008, and a Master of Education (Special Education) in 2020.

In 2019 Clare completed the Associate Multisensory Structured Language course, and is an Associate Member of the Australian Dyslexia Association.

She currently serves on the Board of Square Pegs Tasmania.

Clare has a particular interest in working with students with Specific Learning Disorders such as dyslexia and dysgraphia, and those with attention, memory or executive functioning difficulties.

She believes a collaborative approach between schools, families and service providers is essential in maximising student learning and in supporting students to become their own advocates.