Speech, Language and Communication Needs

At Elms school we are committed to supporting pupils with SLCN to achieve their full potential. We support pupils by using a range of strategies. These include visual reinforcements, visual timetables, social stories, pre-teaching vocabulary, task management boards and Communicate In Print and Lego Therapy. We also provide individual Speech therapy intervention for pupil’s with specialist involvement. Elm’s school employs a full time Speech Therapy assistant with termly visits from a NHS Speech Therapist.

A child with speech and language needs may have difficulties with receptive and expressive skills, speech sounds, communication skills, Autism Spectrum Disorder or Asperger’s syndrome. Some children may have one or more speech and communication difficulty.

If there are concerns that a child has speech and language difficulties then they will be assessed and an intervention programme will be put in place. A referral to the NHS Speech and Language Service, may be recommended if needed or when progress is not made following intervention.

Interventions

Lego Therapy

Lego-based therapy is a social development programme for young people with autism spectrum disorders or related social communication difficulties. Young people work together to build Lego models and through this have the opportunity to develop social skills such as turn taking, collaboration and social communication.

Individual speech therapy sessions

Children assessed by a speech therapist may receive individual speech therapy sessions delivered by our speech and language assistant. They will follow a specific programme to support their speech and language needs.