The school has 24 fully qualified Speech and Language Therapists.

 

Key Stages 1 and 2

In Key Stages 1 and 2 Communication Therapy is delivered over 4 sessions a week. The programme includes: developing pupils’ understanding and use of language skills, developing pragmatic language abilities, developing functional language skills and supporting the pupil’s ability to access the National Curriculum. There is also a considerable focus on social skills, enabling the pupils to develop their friendships and to learn to interact appropriately with each other.

 

In addition, there is a Speech & Language Therapist assigned to each class group, who is able to provide advice and assistance to teaching staff as and when required. This key therapist is also able to provide therapy, advice and assistance to pupils on a needs-led basis. Speech & Language therapists and teachers plan together to provide a curriculum whereby the academic demands are supported and reinforced by the Speech and Language therapy team. This helps generalise these skills into different contexts and reinforce key vocabulary. Many of our staff across the school have an additional qualification in specific learning difficulties (dyslexia).

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Key Stages 3 and 4

In Key Stages 3 and 4, Communication Therapy is delivered three to four times per week. The programme delivered includes: developing pupils understanding and use of language skills, developing pragmatic language abilities, developing functional language skills and supporting the pupil’s ability to access the National Curriculum. The comprehensive Self Awareness Programme aims to support the pupils in identifying their strengths and difficulties and understanding how these will impact upon their futures. This is delivered in a group, and on an individual basis where appropriate.

 

SLTs work collaboratively with teaching staff in order to support the generalisation of language skills into the classroom and also to support pupils to access the curriculum. In Key Stage 4, the SLTs work closely with the teaching staff to support pupils to access exam curriculum content and develop vital study skills.

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In Key Stage 3 and 4, the Speech & Language Therapists and the Occupational Therapists aim to develop Functional Skills. In these classes, the joint sessions aim to develop pupil’s social skills, expressive and receptive language and overall independence. Topics include communicating with the outside world, integrating into the community, self-care, organisation, health and well-being.  The interdisciplinary approach enables therapists to combine their expertise, ways of delivering the curriculum as well as tailor it to meet the pupil’s needs. Working together, therapists have the opportunity to plan, deliver and assess tasks which are differentiated to the needs of the pupils. Using an interdisciplinary approach supports pupil’s awareness of the meaningful connections that exist among the two disciplines and link the skills, knowledge and strategies they have learnt to every day functional tasks, furthermore, this will support them to generalise the range of skills they have learnt to other settings.

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As in the Lower School, there is a Speech & Language therapist assigned to each class group, who is able to provide advice and assistance to teaching staff as and when required. In addition, this key therapist is able to provide therapy, advice and assistance to pupils on a needs-led basis. Speech and Language therapists and teachers plan together to provide a curriculum whereby the academic demands are supported and reinforced by the Speech and Language therapy team and the Life Skills Programme is delivered throughout the curriculum. This helps generalise these skills into different contexts and reinforce key vocabulary.

 

In addition to the group provision, pupils throughout the school may receive individual or paired speech and language therapy according to their needs.

 

Post 16

The Speech and Language Therapy provision for Post 16 pupils is aimed at supporting the development of functional skills and independence. This provision includes small group therapy in the form of a weekly discussion group, SLT input integrated into delivery of the Work Skills BTEC, and support on site at each pupil's local Further Education (FE) College (eg Nescot/South Thames) to monitor functional progress on an on-going basis. Pupils have access to individual SLT input on a needs-led basis.  The SLT team also work with the FE teaching staff to provide support, advice and training as and when required.

 

For Foundation Stage provision please see the Foundation Stage page.