SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS
Practical support and training for preschools, primary schools and high schools
Children with Selective Mutism usually find it hardest to speak at school. Treatment in the clinic alone generally won’t change that. Progress at school depends on teachers and educators using the right strategies every day.
For 20 years, the Selective Mutism Clinic has helped education teams build students’ confidence to communicate. We offer school meetings for students in our program, one-on-one video support meetings for any school, and webinars for whole teams. Everything is available online, so schools anywhere in Australia can access our support.
WHICH OPTION SUITS YOUR SCHOOL?
1
Your student attends our clinic
Two school meetings each term are part of their program, alongside our teacher webinars.
2
Your student isn't seeing a therapist, or has no school strategies
Book one-on-one video support meetings with Dr Elizabeth Woodcock or Diana Russo, and start with our webinars.
01
WHEN YOUR STUDENT ATTENDS OUR CLINIC
If a child is in our program, their therapist holds school meetings by video with the school or preschool twice each school term. The first meeting is one hour and later meetings are 45 minutes. After each meeting, the school receives a detailed written summary of strategies and progress.
The meetings cover:
- how the child is currently communicating and coping at school
- do’s and don’ts for all staff who have contact with the child
- helping the child get their needs met when they can’t yet speak
- step-by-step strategies, such as Sliding In, to build the child’s communication with their teacher, then peers, small groups, other staff and specialist classes, and finally whole-class situations
The classroom teacher (or a key worker in high school) needs to attend, because the main strategies are used during everyday teaching. Many children progress to speaking in front of the school assembly.
Watch the webinar too. We strongly recommend the classroom teacher and learning support staff watch Selective Mutism Strategies for Schools and Preschools (or the high school version). Staff who know the strategies already get much more from each school meeting. See section 03 for the full list.
If the child is home-schooled or learns online, we can tailor a program for their learning setting.
Families arrange these meetings through their child’s therapist. Read more about our program.
02
WHEN YOUR STUDENT ISN'T SEEING A SPECIALIST YET
Video support meetings (one-on-one)
Not every student with Selective Mutism is linked in with a therapist. A family may not be ready to seek treatment, or the school may not know how to raise it. Sometimes a student is seeing a therapist, but the school hasn’t been given the specific strategies it needs in the classroom.
In these situations, school and preschool staff can book their own one-on-one video support meetings through our professional supervision service. The student does not need to be a client of the clinic. Meetings are with Dr Elizabeth Woodcock (Director and Clinical Psychologist) or Diana Russo (Speech Pathologist), and can be one-off or ongoing. All meetings are held by video, so schools anywhere in Australia can take part.
A meeting can help you:
- understand what may be keeping the student from speaking
- agree on do’s and don’ts for all staff
- start building the student’s communication with practical classroom strategies
- plan how to talk with the family about getting help
- fill gaps when the student’s current therapist hasn’t provided school strategies
- work out next steps when progress has stalled
Who it’s for: classroom teachers, preschool educators and directors, school counsellors and psychologists, learning support teachers and learning support assistants.
Cost: $295 (+GST) per meeting with Dr Elizabeth Woodcock; $290 (+GST) per meeting with Diana Russo.
Start with a webinar. Our webinars are the quickest way for the whole team to learn the core strategies, and we recommend staff watch Selective Mutism Strategies for Schools and Preschools (or the high school version) before their first meeting. That way, meeting time goes on your student rather than the basics. See section 03 for all webinars.
Talking with a family about getting help
If you think a student may have Selective Mutism and the family hasn’t sought help, you can:
- describe what you are seeing at school, calmly and without blame
- let them know Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder that responds well to treatment, and younger children usually progress faster
- suggest the 30-minute webinar What is Selective Mutism or our FAQs as a gentle first step
- let them know the clinic offers face-to-face and online treatment anywhere in Australia, and families can contact us directly
Not sure how to start the conversation? A one-on-one video support meeting can help you plan it.
03
TRAINING FOR YOUR WHOLE TEAM
Dr Elizabeth Woodcock’s webinars give education teams practical strategies they can use straight away, without needing a meeting about a particular student. Formats vary by webinar; see each page for on-demand options and upcoming live dates.
Getting Started
What is Selective Mutism — 30 minutes. A clear introduction for teachers, parents and carers.
What All Staff Need to Know about Selective Mutism — 50 minutes. The do’s and don’ts for whole-school teams, including staff who see the student outside the classroom.
In-depth classroom strategies
Selective Mutism Strategies for Schools and Preschools — 3 hours. Our bestselling webinar, for preschool and primary teachers, school psychologists and learning support teams.
Selective Mutism Strategies for High Schools — 3 hours. For high school teachers, counsellors and learning support teams, including the key worker role and communication across classes.
Online Strategies for Treating Selective Mutism — 2 hours. Supporting students in virtual classrooms and video calls.
Transitions
Preparing Preschoolers with Selective Mutism for School — 1.5 hours. For preschool educators, receiving teachers and families.
Preparing Children with Selective Mutism for a New School Year — 1 hour 45 minutes. Teacher handover and keeping progress through changes of class and routine.
Preparing Students with Selective Mutism for High School — 2 hours. Planning the move from primary to high school.
04
NOT SURE WHERE TO START?
Tell us a little about your student and we’ll suggest the best option. It helps to include:
- the student’s age and year
- whether they are seeing a therapist
- what support your school is looking for
