South Ayrshire Communication Friendly Environments

03/07/2026

⭐️ NEWSFLASH! ⭐️

South Ayrshire Communication Friendly Communities is changing!

Due to funding, the current Communities project has now finished and we are therefore unable to take on any new settings (we are currently ‘wrapping up’ our last few current settings). Jo also moved to a new post with Teeny Carers in March.

We would like to thank all our wonderful community settings over the last two years for their commitment and engagement to ensuring their services are accessible and inclusive for all through completing their Communication Friendly journey 💜 This project was the first of its kind in Scotland and we are so proud to have been a part of it 💜

However, Communication Friendly Communities isn’t disappearing completely! 👍 From September, keep a look out for free Total Communication training - this will be available for anyone who is interested including South Ayrshire Council, NHS & South Ayrshire HSCP employees and will be advertised on an open basis approximately every 6 weeks ☺️ A Teams channel will also be set up to allow you to access any visuals you need.

We wanted to share some of the project’s achievements over the past 2 years:

✅ 57 community settings/services accredited

✅ 654 people have completed Total Communication training

✅ 74 training sessions delivered

✅ Countless Boardmaker visuals, lanyard symbols, communication boards & social stories made

✅ Numerous positive impact stories from community settings and service users

A big thank you to you all for making such a difference to the people of South Ayrshire 💜🙌

Love Claire and Jo x

P.S. This does not affect Education Communication Friendly Environments which will continue in its current form ☺️

02/07/2026

We had a super Total Communication training session this week with some of the new staff at Ayr Housing Aid Centre which now encompasses some staff who transferred from Quarriers and SeAscape ☺️ It was great to see all their Boardmaker environmental visuals displayed in the centre 👍

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to your Communication Friendly journey 💜

29/06/2026

Troon Church of Scotland are well on their way with their Communication Friendly journey - both St.Meddan’s and Portland Churches are now fully visualised with Boardmaker/photo signage 💜

A wide range of individuals, groups and visitors pass through the church doors every week, so this signage will support all who access the church ⛪️

Next stop…Total Communication training for the Church Welcome Team! 💜🙌

19/06/2026

⭐️ SUPER ST. PATRICK’S! ⭐️

Congratulations to St. Patrick’s Primary who have achieved their Learning Environment badge! 👏

St. Patrick’s are the first primary in the Queen Margaret cluster to achieve this badge - well done! 🥰

St. Patrick’s has a wonderfully visualised environment with clear use of Boardmaker across the school, as well as a range of quiet spaces to support regulation and small group activities 💜

Every class has a Boardmaker visual timetable, wall displays are well symbolised with Boardmaker symbols matching to the curricular area and all classes are clearly labelled with door signs featuring staff photos, including the office, Head Teacher, janitor & dining hall staff 🥰

We especially love their visualised school values to ensure all pupils are aware of expectations, with ‘arrow signs’ enabling visitors to successfully find their way about the school ➡️↗️

Congratulations Team St. Pats! 💚🙌

18/06/2026

🧸 BUDDY TRAINING 🧸

A big thank you to all the schools who have welcomed us this term for P5-7 Buddy Language and Communication Training ☺️

We hope all the strategies covered will be well used by your P6/7 Buddies when your new P1s start in August to support their speech and language skills 🥰

Thank you to:

- Dalmilling Primary ✅
- Doonfoot Primary ✅
- Glenburn Primary ✅
- Monkton Primary ✅
- Culzean Primary ✅
- Tarbolton Primary ✅
- Girvan Primary ✅
- Kincaidston Primary ✅
- Dundonald Primary ✅
- St. Patrick’s Primary ✅
- Coylton Primary ✅
- Grammar Primary ✅
- Symington Primary ✅

Buddy Bear is now away into hibernation for a well earned rest until next year! 😂🐻

17/06/2026

⭐️ WALLACETOWN WEDNESDAYS! ⭐️

Congratulations to the Working For Wallacetown Hub who are now Communication Friendly 💜

Here is Shaun proudly receiving their plaque ☺️🙌

16/06/2026

⭐️ GO GLENBURN! ⭐️

Congratulations to Glenburn Primary who have achieved their Learning Environment badge! 👏

Glenburn has a wonderfully visualised environment with consistent use of Boardmaker across all stages and shared spaces, ensuring navigation, independence & understanding are all effectively supported 💜

Every class has a Boardmaker visual timetable, wall displays are well symbolised with Boardmaker symbols matching to the curricular area and all classes are clearly labelled with door signs featuring staff photos 🥰

We especially love the range of Reading Areas & Calm Corners, with ‘arrow signs’ enabling visitors to successfully find their way about the campus ➡️↗️

Congratulations Team Glenburn! 💙🙌

15/06/2026

📍⭐️ MAPPY MONDAY! ⭐️📍

Congratulations to Shaun at the Working For Wallacetown Hub who added them to the map this week as they are now Communication Friendly! 💜

The Hub has Boardmaker signage in place and staff have lanyard symbols to support communication on doorstep visits & social stories explaining their role as required 👏

Well done Team Wallacetown! 💜

12/06/2026

Special Friday shout out to the amazing Mrs Gavienas and Mrs McCutcheon for all their hard work in helping Queen Margaret Academy achieve their Level 2 Supportive Learning Approaches badge! A wonderful achievement and the first secondary in South Ayrshire to achieve this success 💜👏⭐️

🌟 Friday Heroes 🌟

This week’s Friday Heroes are Mrs Gavienas and Mrs McCutcheon for their dedication and hard work in leading the initiatives that helped QMA achieve the Communication Friendly Schools Level 2 Badge.
A fantastic achievement for our school and a well-deserved recognition of their efforts.

South Ayrshire Communication Friendly Environments

12/06/2026

⭐️ FOREHILL FRIDAY! ⭐️

Congratulations to Forehill Primary who have achieved their Supportive Learning Approaches and Nurturing Communication badges!

Here are some snapshots from their wonderful evidence presentations - there is amazing positive practice happening to support the speech, language & communication skills of Forehill pupils with a fantastic range of high quality approaches, activities & partnership initiatives with the children and families always at the centre 💜

A superb range of Pupil Voice, listening & talking opportunities and learning & teaching styles are utilised with the successful use of symbols, pictures & signing to support pupil understanding, communication and regulation 🥰

Pupil independence and self-confidence are developed through nurturing positive
relationships with success in speaking & listening widely celebrated across the school 🎉

Family learning opportunities are vast and it was lovely to hear from the pupils themselves about their growing confidence as a result of supportive initiatives, activities and opportunities - a true sense of community is at the heart of Forehill 💜

Well done Team Forehill! 🥰🙌💜