About Michael Jones MSc, MRCSLT, PGCE, ADES

Speech and Language Therapy

In 1981, I qualified as a Speech Therapist from Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

From 1981 to 1987 I worked as a Speech Therapist in community clinics, special schools and pre-school and school-age language units in inner London.

In 1988 I was awarded Master of Science from City University in London. My research focus was the interaction between parents and children, and how lack of stimulation in infancy could lead to communication difficulties in later life. During this year I travelled throughout the UK as a freelance lecturer on language development.

Between 1988 and 1996, I ran courses on language development at City University.

Teaching

In 1989, I qualified as a primary school teacher, specialising in teaching children in their early years of education. I have had a varied teaching career, including being a class teacher in Infant, Middle and Special schools.

I was a specialist teacher working with children with physical disabilities in a mainstream primary school in Barnet, North London, and a Special Needs Co-ordinator in a Middle school in Harrow, Middlesex. In 1995 I was awarded an Advanced Diploma in Educational Studies, from Cambridge University, specialising in the inclusion of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and the education of Traveller children.

I have worked as an Advisory Teacher with Traveller children and their families, and was Head of Luton’s Traveller Education Support Service.

For three years, I was Advisory Teacher for children with speech, language and communication needs in Luton, and was a consultant on a research project for the Institute of Education in the University of London, looking at ways to improve the spoken language of young children in inner London schools.

My approach to helping children to communicate

The turning point in my work with children came in the mid 1980s, when I realised that the way that I talked with children had a major impact on their language development. The more I listened the more children talked. I looked closely at how I was interacting with children, and found that the more I responded to what they were trying to communicate, the more willing they were to talk with me. This had a major impact on their language learning and behaviour. Since then I have looked very closely at how parents, Speech and Language Therapists, teachers and pre-school workers talk with children. I have lectured throughout the UK, on how positive interaction with children has major benefits for their language development, behaviour and learning.

My ideas on talking with children in schools and pre-school settings have been extensively written about in magazines, including Special Children and Nursery World. I have run courses for schools, pre school settings, childminders, parents, doctors, social workers, speech and language therapists, and contributed to teacher training.

Storytelling

For a number of years I have told stories with groups of children: usually to entire infant, primary and special schools, as well playgroups, nursery classes and mixed groups of children and adults at religious meetings and festivals. I specialise in telling moral stories with a large element of comedy, and plenty of banging and crashing. Children and adults thoroughly enjoy the stories, which provide stimulus for speaking and listening and written work.

Working with families

I can support families of children with communication and learning needs in a number of ways, including providing an independent assessment, and advice on what families can do to help their children at home.

I run parents’ workshops hosted by pre-school and early years providers, and schools.

Conference Speaker

I have addressed a number of conferences on the theme of developing communication in schools, and storytelling to develop language and communication.

Have a closer look at the website to see what I can offer you, and find out who wrote, “Dear Mr. Jones, your jokes are laughable.”