"J loves coming to PALS Social Skills Group, he has made great progress at home and school. His school menor commented about him being a different boy! He is interacting better with other children, he is being left in the playground without his TA. He has total freedom now at playtime and that is thanks to PALS social skills group." G, Parent at PALS in Barnet. July 2014
"They find it exciting to come to the group, feeling safe and confident. They tell me what kind of games they do, especially when they see the games elsewhere and want to play them.2 M, Parent at PALS in Barnet. July 2014
"S looks forward to attendign PALS and participates well in the small setting. He really enjoys the social skills and what is expected of him. He is improving slowly and is benefitting from this group" B, Parent at PALS in Barnet. July 2014
"They find it exciting to come to the group, feeling safe and confident. They tell me what kind of games they do, especially when they see the games elsewhere and want to play them.2 M, Parent at PALS in Barnet. July 2014
"S looks forward to attendign PALS and participates well in the small setting. He really enjoys the social skills and what is expected of him. He is improving slowly and is benefitting from this group" B, Parent at PALS in Barnet. July 2014
Testimonial for Angela Silis
Yvette Davis SENCo at Barnet Primary School
October 2014
I met Angela at North London Business Park in 2012, when we both worked in The Intensive Family Focus Team. I was present at a talk Angela gave at a conference for special educational needs with reference to Autism Spectrum Disorder and was impressed by her understanding and knowledge of the subject. I soon learned that Angela has twin boys who have the disorder and I realised that she had both a personal and professional understanding. Her depth of knowledge and understanding was outstanding and the talk she delivered was remembered by many for a long time afterwards.
From then onwards I was able to approach Angela with any questions I had around children I worked with who were on the spectrum and she was always able to help me with my work in this way.
When I moved from that team to become a SENCo in a Barnet Primary School I knew Angela would be a great link and support to me with regard to children in my school on the spectrum.
Angela invited me to a group she was running in 2013 for local children with ASD and I was keen to attend. I was impressed by every aspect of the session. The children were happy and engaged in the activities provided and it was structured in a way that offered them a sense of routine and expectation. Angela managed the group really well, maintaining order and having fun simultaneously.
I decided to model a group in my school based around what I had experienced at Angela’s session and I asked Angela to come in to school to share her practice with the staff in our school who spend time with children who are on the spectrum.
The training was excellent and inspiring and we have been running groups ever since. The children gain so much from the sessions – developing communication skills, turn-taking, raising self-esteem and confidence as well as having fun.
