Communication for young people

All children and young people are entitled to

Quality first teaching to challenge and develop all children including those with 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 can communicate effectively and explicitly teach speech, language and communication skills
Practitioners who create a language rich environment, which provides language learning opportunities and interactions in daily activities
Careful and detailed transition arrangements made for all transition opportunities, including year 7 and post 16
Access to a communication friendly learning environment
Integrating communication into everyday situations and scenarios
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
Practitioners who recognise and respond to all methods of communication
Access to a GP
Child has access to pre-teaching and learning for vocabulary, concepts and reading
NHS telephone advice service short appointments
Baseline and monitoring assessment in the primary years
Access to reception hearing test
Knowledgeable parents and practitioners aware of their role in supporting speech, language and communication development and working together in partnership.

Identification of speech, language and communication needs where pupils are not meeting age-related expectations
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)
Identified members of staff who can deliver the speech and language programme in the setting following advice and guidance of the speech and language therapist
Child to have access to a personalised communication passport. Templates available from Call Scotland Creating communication passports.

Access to a 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
Involvement of SEND Advisory Teacher around complex speech, language and communication needs/social communication difficulties
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
Access to specialist communication software and equipment