Speech & Language Therapy Services in Mainstream School

Parent session – Rosendale school

Marie-Therese Worthington, SLT

Aims• Discuss areas targeted in speech & language

therapy• Discuss the current service delivery model• Outline suggestions for how school & SLT

support children’s speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)

• Give ideas for how to help your child at home

Terminology

Lots of modelling

Lots of praise

Understanding

Expressive Language

Vocabulary, grammar, narrative

Clear speech sounds and fluency

Attention & Listening Social Motivation

Play

SLT service to Mainstream Schools in Lambeth

• School caseload is allocated number of SLT sessions based on clinical need

• SLT liaises with SENCo to plan how to use this time. • SLT programmes set up after: discussion with CT,

discussion with parents, observation & assessment.• Typically, SLT models activities for teacher/TA to carry

out at least twice a week.• Schools use teacher checklists to identify children

who need to be referred

From RCSLT position paper

SLT service delivery in Lambeth

Universal ServicesThose services that are available to all children and their families

Targeted ServicesThose services that provide support aimed at particular groups of children often within universal settings

Specialist ServicesThose specific SLT services provided for newly referred children and those with high-level needs

Training – re language development and environment Advice Clinics / Drop-ins that anyone can attendModelling in the classroom

Drop-ins where those on caseload are invitedIEP meetingsCommunication groups / programmes run by school staff with SLT support(Joint working with teachers around differentiation and target setting) (Training aimed at supporting specific groups of children)

•Assessment•Reports (initial, SA2, annual review)•Direct therapy (1:1/group) •Specialist Outreach (complex needs, ASD)

Why do you need to support your child’s language development

So your child can:

– Tell you their needs– Have a conversation with you!– Understand instructions– Make friends– Access the curriculum at school

Parent Child Interaction

• The way adults interact affects how children communicate.

• You as the parent or carer play a key role in supporting your child’s thinking and language development.

Activity 1 Talking about your holiday

To support your child’s language development you

need to…

STOP

• Stop what you’re doing and focus on the child

• Give the child time and space to speak

LOOK

• Look at what your child is doing and take an interest in it

• Listen to what they are trying to say

RESPOND• Give your child lots of

praise.• If your child makes a

mistake, model the correct word/phrase.

• Ask as few questions as possible.

• Expand their language by adding new words.

Special TimeFive minutes each day where you give your child

your undivided attention.

During this time:• allow your child to choose what to play with. • Follow their lead at all times. • Comment on what they are doing.• Have fun!

Play

• Play is essential to your child’s development

• It is linked to other skills such as language and thinking

• To develop these skills children need to have someone to play with

Tips for playing with your child• It does not have to be expensive or complicated; it’s an

opportunity to get creative!

• Get together lots of different things for your child to look at, think about and do.

• Give your child plenty of opportunities to use their bodies by running, jumping and climbing, especially if you don’t have much room at home.

• Remember ‘Special Time’!

Activity 2Following instructions

How can you support your child’s understanding?

• Clearly label objects / actions• Use lots of repetition• Show object at the child’s eye level• Speak slowly• Speak at the child’s language level • Use body language, facial expression and

gesture• Offer choices to your child

How can you support your child’s understanding?

Modelling & Recasting• ppsxfrequentrecasting2.ppsx

Take Home ActivityPick one strategy we have mentioned today to

help support your child’s language development.

Practice the strategy at home this week when playing with your child.

Summary• Speech and Language Therapists work in

Primary schools with a range of children

• Parents are key in their child’s language development – STOP, LOOK, RESPOND

• Having Special Time with your child can promote language development