In July 2017 Elms School successfully achieved the Balanced System® Scheme For Schools accreditation. The accreditation has been awarded for 3 years.

What is the Balanced System® Scheme For Schools and Settings?

The Balanced System® Scheme for Schools and Settings is a whole system approach to improving outcomes for children and young people across the range of speech, language and communication needs. The scheme has been created in response to schools’ demand for a strategic approach to understanding their role in commissioning and providing support for speech, language and communication needs.

The Balanced System® Schools and Settings provides an overarching set of outcomes, processes and outcome measures across the core five strands of the Balanced System®: supporting parents, young people and families; enhancing and adapting the environment; developing the workforce; identifying need; and providing appropriate intervention.

The Balanced System® Scheme Schools and Settings provides a school or cohort of schools with the tools, mentor support and peer support to ensure that the school is making the best of its resources to support speech, language and communication across the school for all children as well as those with specific needs. Good speech, language and communication skills underpin attainment across the curriculum.

NAPLIC and AFASIC are collaborating with Better Communication CIC to provide this accredited scheme because they believe that there is a need to set clear standards and provide schools with a ‘road-map’ to achieve good outcomes for children, young people with SLCN and their families.

The scheme provides award status up to a specialist level for SLCN and meets Step 3 of the Communication Trust's Communication Commitment.