The Speech and Language Therapy Service with Unlocking Potential

Speech and Language Therapists (SaLTs) are Allied Health professionals that work with all people requiring support with communication or eating, drinking, and swallowing. SaLTs work holistically with parents/carers, families, teachers, LSAs, nurses, Occupational Therapists, psychologists and other Health Care Professionals.

The Speech and Language Therapy team at Unlocking Potential work in school settings via The Schools Programme and at our very own Corner School, we specialise in a communication caseload.

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Speech and Language Therapy with The Schools Programme

In conjunction with The Schools Programme, UP Speech and Language Therapists provide school-based communication support to vulnerable pupils presenting with communication problems increasing their likelihood of Social, Emotional and Mental Health challenges.

UP offer half termly communication support packages to schools each academic year they register with the service. UP SaLTs work with school staff to identify high need classrooms and (at least) two identified classrooms each half-term will receive universal (whole class) to small scale targeted (group work) SaLT support.

A qualified UP SaLT (HCPC reg, MRCSLT) or a SaLT student on placement (under the supervision of the UP SaLT Lead) work directly with classroom staff to demonstrate and embed some or all of the following approaches:

Visuals to support the classroom e.g., visual timetables, communication boards, classroom signage, now/next boards A Makaton Core vocabulary for the classroom setting

Attention Bucket approach for the whole class or small groups

Vocabulary enrichment to benefit the whole class setting

Social Communication strategies for the classroom and/or small groups

Colourful Semantics to support in the classroom

A Zones of Regulation emotions ‘check in’ for classroom use

Pair or small group support with Speech Sounds

SaLT Training

Additionally, as part of the half termly SaLT support block, schools are offered some SaLT training options (either in person or virtually) for classroom staff.

When there is existing on-site SaLT service in a school, we liaise closely with the school SaLT team to make our presence as useful as possible and, where appropriate, boost your current work.

If you are interested in this support package for your school, or already receive this and have some further questions please contact Rebecca Keeling – Rebecca.keeling@up.org.uk – Speech and Language Therapy Lead.

Speech and Language Therapy at The Corner School

At the Corner School many of our children arrive with Speech and Language requirements and recommendations detailed on their Education and Health Care Plans. These are met by UP’s onsite qualified Speech and Language Therapists (HCPC reg. MRCSLT). Additionally, children are monitored for any developments in their communication needs whilst attending The Corner School. All children benefit from a Total Communication Approach embedded at the school by the onsite team and supported by the wider UP SaLT team via joint CPD.

Further information/useful websites:

www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/

www.speechandlanguage.org.uk

www.makaton.org

67%

of children are referred to Speech and Language Therapy to help with general language difficulties.