School-based guidelines often require that treatment focuses on minimizing or eliminating stuttered speech. The purpose of this study was to examine the benefits of explicit training in communication competencies to children who stutter without targeting stuttered speech. Thirty-seven children (ages 4–16) completed Camp Dream. Speak. Live., an intensive group treatment program which targets the psychosocial needs and communication of children who stutter. Outcome measures included the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES), the Communication Attitude Test for Preschool and Kindergarten Children Who Stutter (KiddyCAT), and the Patient Reported Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Peer Relationships Short Form (PROMIS Peer Relationships) and Parent Proxy Peer Relationships Short Form (PROMIS Parent Proxy). Pre- and posttreatment public presentations were rated on nine core verbal and nonverbal communication competencies by a neutral observer. Similar to previous studies, participants demonstrated significant improvements in communication attitudes (OASES) and perceived ability to establish peer relationships (PROMIS Peer Relationships), particularly school-aged participants (ages 7–16). Participants also demonstrated significant improvement in eight of the nine communication competencies. Findings suggest that, in addition to the psychosocial gains of programs such as Camp Dream. Speak. Live., children who stutter benefit from explicit training in communication skills, and these gains are not dependent on the presence of stuttered speech.

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Developing social and emotional well-being amongst children and young people is part of national educational policy (e.g. Department for Education and Skills (DfES), 2004; Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCFS), 2008). A relatively recent intervention known as ‘Rtime’ (Sampson, 2004) appears to be able to improve relationships in school and at the same impact upon reducing bullying behaviours and raising enjoyment. Rtime is a 15-minute, weekly, structured relationship programme where children work in random pairs on a co-operative activity, incorporating time to greet and thank each other. The aim of this study was to research whether Rtime really did have the effects on children that it claimed. The study took place in 21 educational settings within a city in the south-west of England with 149 school-aged participants from Foundation to Key Stage 3 from both mainstream and specialist educational settings. The participants completed a questionnaire that investigated the above themes. Overall, the statistical analysis of the questionnaire responses suggested that Rtime had made a significant positive impact on children’s development of relationships and friendships and contributed to some changes in the children’s perceptions of bullying and enjoyment at school. Teachers reported that Rtime had made an impact on collaborative working, manners and general social skills. It is concluded that Rtime is a valuable programme that promotes significant positive changes in classrooms and schools consistent with national initiatives.