The philosophy of “Learning Skills 4 Kids” is based on the belief that it is essential for a child to have a strong foundation upon which to build further skills.

Our goal is to work toward building up the foundation to ensure that it is solid and strong. If a child has a weakness in one or more of the foundation skills*, we believe that these areas must be attended to before one can expect the child to become an effective learner at school.

*If you would like to read more check out our article The Foundation Blocks for Learning.

At Learning Skills 4 Kids we do not assume the child has the basic foundation skills for learning. Rather our programs aim to address these basic skills before moving onto higher levels of learning. Our programs are aimed at specifically targeting these areas of need. The programs have been designed by qualified therapists who use these same or very similar activities during their daily therapy sessions with clients. As authors of the programs, we are therapists who work in two different but complimentary fields i.e. occupational therapy and speech language therapy. As such, we feel that the combination of these skills allows us to design programs which are sensitive to children with a wide range of needs.

We endeavour to create programs which encourage home learning at an affordable price. Parents and care givers can assist their child in an environment where the child feels safe and secure. Our programs can be used over and over again, are not culture specific and can be administered by a literate adult. (Caregiver, nanny, grandparent, school, etc.)

We have found that our programs have been used by many caregivers and parents who do not have access to regular therapy. Over and above this, these programs can also boost the skills of children who are in fact attending regular therapy sessions. This is done at home by using the programs on a regular basis during periods in between therapy sessions.

Fiona Lilley - Occupational Therapist
Dip. O.T. (Derby U.K.) NZROT MNZAOT

Fiona has been working as an occupational therapist for the last 25 years. She has worked in the England and South Africa and has specialized in working with children with developmental delays and/or learning difficulties.

Then in 1986 she started her own private practice in South Africa working with children with developmental delays and/or learning difficulties.

After immigrating to New Zealand in 1991 with her family she worked in a physically disabled unit with children with developmental delays and/or learning difficulties plus physical disabilities.

In 1993 Fiona started the first of her businesses catering for children with developmental delays and/or learning difficulties. Fiona is a New Zealand Registered Occupational Therapist and a Member of the New Zealand Occupational Therapy Association.

Sally Barrable - Speech-language Therapist
B.A. Speech and Hearing Therapy (Wits) MNZSTA

Sally has been working as a speech and language therapist for the last 14 years. She worked in South Africa in her own private practice, where she primarily treated children and adults with speech, language and learning difficulties. She worked extensively in schools conducting both group therapy sessions as well as individual sessions.

After immigrating to New Zealand in 2000 with her family she has worked alongside other therapists in a multi-disciplinarian team conducting assessments and devising and implementing therapy programs. She now works as a self employed therapist primarily with speech, language and learning difficulties.

Sally is a New Zealand Registered Speech-Language Therapist and a Member of the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapy Association.