Feel the Magic

Supporting Every Child’s Voice

I’m passionate about helping all children develop their communication skills, confidence, and love of learning — whether they have additional needs or not. Every child deserves the opportunity to be understood and to express themselves in a way that feels right for them.

With many years of experience as a Lead Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, I’ve supported children and young people aged 0–25 across a wide range of abilities, including those with special educational needs, Autism, PMLD, and complex communication needs.

My job roles have included me making learning and interaction meaningful, creative and fun — through play, sensory exploration, and language-rich storytelling.

This passion inspired me to create Tortoise Tales by Truffles — a collection of sensory story cushions designed for every child. Each cushion offers a hands-on, imaginative way to explore stories, communication and connection.

Every cushion set includes:

A beautifully chosen storybook
A selection of puppets or a wooden toy to bring the story to life
A set of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) boards, including both an analytical communication board and a gestalt phrase board, designed to support different communication styles and needs
All presented in a gorgeous cushion.

These resources encourage children to listen, communicate, imagine and play together — making story time an inclusive, interactive experience for all.

Whether used at home, in school, or within therapy settings, each cushion set is thoughtfully created to nurture language, imagination and connection through shared storytelling.

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New Products

I Spy Sensory & Communication Bottles

Shake, search, find and match!

Our I Spy Sensory Bottles are a fun, hands-on way to encourage visual attention, vocabulary, communication and matching skills through sensory play.

Each themed bottle is filled with exciting little objects hidden amongst sensory materials. Children can shake, turn and explore the bottle to find each item shown on the accompanying I Spy board.

When they spot something, they find the matching symbol card and Velcro it onto the board — giving a clear visual sense of achievement as they complete their search.

Each set includes:

- 1 themed I Spy sensory bottle
- Laminated I Spy activity board
- Matching laminated symbol cards
- Velcro attachments for placing each card onto the board
- A selection of hidden themed objects to discover

Great for supporting:

- Visual attention and scanning
- Vocabulary and language development
- Communication and commenting
- Matching and recognition
- Fine motor skills
- Attention and concentration
- Sensory exploration
- Turn taking and shared interaction

There is no pressure to name the objects — children can look, point, match, sign, use AAC or communicate in whatever way works best for them.

Perfect for home, early years settings, SEN environments, therapy activities, sensory sessions and quiet-time play.

Available in a range of themes including Under the Sea, Dinosaurs and more.

Adult supervision required. Contains small parts. This is an activity/resource rather than a toy and should be used under appropriate supervision.

The bottles are glued sealed.

Playdough Items and Homemade playdough

Themed Playdough Sensory & Communication Sets
Squish • Stamp • Create • Communicate

Our themed Playdough Sensory & Communication Sets combine hands-on sensory play with opportunities for children to communicate in the way that works for them.
Each set includes soft sensory playdough together with a selection of themed, tactile stampers and cutters. Children can squash, roll, press, stamp and create while exploring different shapes, patterns and textures.
But these aren't just playdough sets.
Every set comes with a double-sided Playdough Communication Board, designed to support different ways of developing language.

Side 1 – Single Words
A selection of useful individual words to support children who communicate analytically, including vocabulary that can be modelled naturally while playing.

Side 2 – GLP Phrases
Useful whole phrases for Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs) — children who learn and develop language in meaningful chunks rather than beginning with individual words.

The boards can be used for AAC modelling, with adults pointing to the symbols while talking and playing.

There is no expectation for the child to copy or say the words.
Play, explore and communicate.

These sets can create natural opportunities to model language such as:
“More” • “Again” • “Roll” • “Squash” • “Help” • “My turn” • “I like it!” • “Let's make one!”

Perfect for sensory play at home and for use in nurseries, schools, SEN settings and communication-focused sessions.
Available as:
- Playdough pots
- Themed stamper & cutter sets
- Complete themed Playdough Sensory & Communication Sets

Adult supervision required. Contains small parts. This is an activity/resource rather than a toy and should be used under appropriate supervision.