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Communication offer for young people - secondary age
Last Modified May 18, 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-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 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.
Targeted
- 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.
Specialist
- 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