The Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Team is launching a new way of working with schools from September 2024.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) Children's Speech and Language Therapy Team is launching a new way of working with schools in Southend and Castlepoint and Rochford from September 2024.
Previously, school aged children have only attended clinic appointments for reviews/intervention with advice and activities shared with settings in writing or through video conference observations.
From September we will have a ‘link SLT model’. Schools will be allocated a named link Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) who will act as the point of contact for the service. They will provide;
- liaison and demonstration of strategies (at a universal, targeted and specialist level) for school staff to ensure they are confident and skilled in using recommended strategies with pupils
- advice about universal/targeted strategies that can be implemented by the school before needing to refer to the service for children suspected of having, or identified with, a speech, language or communication concern.
- discussion and support in cases where a formal referral to SLT Service may be needed
- identification of training needs in the areas of speech, language and communication for settings and signposting to the relevant training provider (if this cannot be provided by the EPUT Service)
- a point of contact for SENCOs to notify the service of requests for annual reviews, so that reports from the SLT service are requested and provided before the meeting takes place
- a point of contact for SENCOs to discuss communication concerns for children where they might be considering an EHCP assessment request
Expected impact:
- schools are able to get advice and guidance more easily and quickly
- fewer school-aged children needing to attend clinic based appointments
- fewer children’s cases being closed to the service due to non-attendance at clinic-based appointments
- the service being notified of and able to provide reports for Education Health and Care Plan annual reviews more quickly
- better working relationships and less physical distance between the SLT service and schools
Schools will be contacted by their assigned link SLT in the Autumn Term to arrange an introductory discussion and plan for how they can support the setting.
If schools wish to know who their assigned link SLT will be in advance of contact from the service, please email slt.educationenquiries@nhs.net