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With 45% of our pupils having a diagnosis of Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties, we understand the importance of being proactive in developing sound communication skills. A communication difficulty can be a barrier to accessing the curriculum and developing the emotional and social skills they need for a successful
experience at school and the wider world.

 

Speech, language and communication development has to be a central aspect of learning and opportunities to develop these skills are provided hour-by-hour in every classroom. Our Communication Room is a language rich environment, resourced to facilitate the varied and individualised approaches required.

 

There are times when an individual may need a very specific and specialised approach to help them overcome a particularly tricky barrier to their progress. Our Communication Room is a dedicated space for individuals and small groups to come to work with our communication specialist, Nasim Ali. 

 

Our specialist works closely with our Speech and Language Therapists to provide programmes that are grounded in the principles of evidenced-based interventions such as Talk Boost, a targeted intervention for children with language that is delayed, or Colourful Semantics.

 

The interventions are highly individualised and structured to support the child’s development in language acquisition and communication. Sessions include activities that cover the key elements of language: Attention and Listening, Vocabulary, Building Sentences, Telling Stories and Conversations, through a variety of approaches such as individual work, group work, role-play, drama, music, games, technology and creative projects.

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Children and young persons with speech and language needs are also seen by Paediatric Speech and Language Therapists (SaLT) from the Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust who are based at our school twice a week. Speech Therapy is provided to children in line with the child’s Educational Health Care Plan, and / or their needs on SaLT assessment.

SaLT sessions in school may take the form of an assessment of a child’s language and communication skills, or where appropriate, an assessment of eating, drinking and swallowing skills and provision of mealtime guidelines and skills development programmes.

Speech and Language Therapists will work directly with children in a whole class and/or small group and/or 1:1 setting (depending on the child’s individual needs) in collaboration with teaching staff. This enables the therapist to model strategies and activities which can then be repeated and embedded by school staff across the week.