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Communication offer for parents - secondary
Last Modified May 12, 2023
All children and young people are entitled to
- Quality first teaching to challenge and develop all children including those with speech, language and communication needs
- Staff with knowledge of the typical developmental stages for speech, language and communication and the implications for teaching and learning
- Staff who understand the effect of language development that does not follow a typical pattern
- Teachers who are aware of and modify their own communication and explicitly teach speech and language skills
- Careful and detailed transition arrangements made for all transition opportunities, including Year 7 and Post to 16
- Access to a communication friendly learning environment
- Access to a GP
- Access to a school setting or professional that can refer to speech and language therapy
- Named speech, language and communication lead in school for provision and strategies. Guide on resources for continuation of provision.
- NHS telephone advice service short appointments.
- Access to communication friendly environments in the local community. Information from www.speechandlanguage.org.uk Self-Evaluation Framework for communication friendly environment audit and training needs
- Knowledgeable parents and practitioners aware of their role in supporting speech, language and communication development and working together in partnership
Some children and young people may need
- Screening for speech, language and communication needs undertaken as part of diagnostic assessments
- Use of initiatives such as ICAN’s Secondary Talk, Talk for Work programme to support those with identified speech, language and communication needs
- Access to appropriate school-based interventions, including Elklan strategies, to provide a short-term boost to language learning delivered by appropriately trained members of staff
- Person-centred approaches to meeting identified needs either for individuals or in small groups
- A graduated approach to speech, language and communication which may require a referral to the inclusion team or speech and language therapy (SaLT).
- Child to have access to a personalised communication passport. Templates available from Call Scotland Creating communication passports
A few children and young people may need
- Access to a NHS speech and language therapist who can assess, provide advice and guidance and, where appropriate, intervention to the young person
- Identified members of staff who can support speech and language programmes in the setting (if required) following the advice and guidance of the speech and language therapist
- Advice about alternative, augmentative communication (AAC) available through Highfurlong Communication Aids and Assistive Technology (CAAT) Team
- Access to Educational Psychologist if appropriate
- Access to diagnostic pathways
- Involvement of SEND Advisory Teacher around complex speech, language and communication needs / social communication difficulties