1. Speech and Language Therapy Update
Gill Clarke
Advanced Clinical Specialist
Lead for Training

2. What’s new? Team re-structure in 2014
Professional Clinical Manager – Vicky Mulvana
Team Leader – Alison Brown
Professional Lead – Louise Watkins
Team of specialist therapists

3. Advanced Clinical Specialists
Autism – Maria Lahaniati
Complex Needs – Rachel Shearer
Dysphagia – Pippa Hutton
Dysfluency – Helen Lennox
Hearing Impairment – Jo Mitchelmore
Specific Language Impairment including selective mutism – Charlotte Firth (Scarb)
Transitions – Suzanne Thurling
Training – Gill Clarke

4. Children may be seen at….
Community Clinics
Mainstream schools
CDC
Hob Moor Oaks
Applefields
Haxby Road ERP

5. Referrals
0-5 through drop in clinics
Y1+ direct referral

6. Training New Role = Blank Canvas!
Schools are a starting point because we already have established training packages to build on.

7. Why Training? Because we know it works!
E.g. in school based therapy, research shows that children make better progress on SLC targets when the TAs have received training.
SEN reforms – teachers are responsible for the progress of every child’s progress, including spoken language - we can help with this!
If you focus on developing spoken language it will impact on written language – we can support others in developing spoken language.

8. Outcomes for children with SLCN
A child’s vocabulary at 5 is a significant predictor of educational success at 30
50 – 90% of children with persistent SLCN go on to have reading difficulties.
Only 20% of children with SLCN reach expected levels for English and Maths at age 11.
13.8% of pupils with SLCN gain GCSE A*-C including maths and English compared to 60.6% of their peers (DfE 2013)
Narrative skills at 3-6 years is a powerful predictor of literacy skills at 8-12 years

9. New National Curriculum
What’s new for Speaking and Listening?
Now called ‘spoken language’ but includes understanding.
A minimal programme of study that isn’t age differentiated and covers the whole of primary.
Language is a cross curricular theme.
A stronger focus on teaching vocabulary and grammar explicitly.
Oral language is central to the school curriculum
But – there is nothing on how spoken language should be taught!

10. Key studies show that a focus on communication makes a difference in outcomes for children
Pupils with good language skills do better at school
There is an explicit link between spoken language and achievement
The current curriculum acknowledges the importance of oral language.
The speech and language therapy team can offer training on all aspects of spoken language.

11. What next?
It’s the perfect time to be looking at the development of a training programmes on developing speech, language and communication.
Information gathering stage.

12. Who would benefit from training in speech, language and communication?
Schools
Nurseries – private and LA
Child minders
Children’s centre staff
Youth offending teams
Health visitors
Respite carers/foster carers
Any other ideas!

13. Are you part of a team that would benefit from training in speech, language and communication?
Do you have ideas on a training service could develop?
Then get in touch!

14. Gill Clarke
Tel
Mob
Tadcaster Health Centre
Crab Garth
Tadcaster
North Yorkshire
LS24 8HD