Speech and language therapy provision in specialists schools and integrated resources – information for parents

Background

From September 2023, children and young people will access the Speech and Language Therapy Service through episodes of care. This means they will be open to us when they need specific support, but closed during times when their needs can be met by the support in place in school and at home.

This page explains how the Speech and Language Therapy service will work with your child or young person throughout their time at school. We work closely with schools and parents and carers to give you the skills to help your child or young person’s communication across all parts of their life.

Levels of support

Sheffield Speech and Language Therapy Service provides support at three levels:

Marie Gascoigne’s © The Balanced System framework

Descriptions taken from the Better Communication website © The Balanced System

Reasons for referral

• The Speech and Language Therapist has recommended a referral back to the service.
• Your child or young person is showing any of the red flags from the attached meal and snack time red flags document.
• Your child or young person needs an updated communication profile or mealtime mat due to changes in their communication or eating, drinking and swallowing.
• Your child or young person has a degenerative condition and there has been a change in their communication or eating, drinking and swallowing drinking.
• Your child or young person needs help to use other ways of communicating, such as pictures, symbols or signing.
• Your child or young person needs help with their speech sounds and is motivated to engage in practise.

Eating and drinking referrals

Children and young people with eating and drinking difficulties can be referred using the referral form on our website. The referral form should be sent to the Speech and Language Therapy central email address on the form. Referrals can be made by parents and carers or school staff  and other professionals with your permission.

Communication referrals

Most referrals for children and young people who need support with their communication will come through a referral meeting with school. These will happen every half-term. If you have concerns about your child or young person, the first step would be to speak to your child or young person’s class teacher. From the information provided, we identify which children and young people need to see us. For those who do not need to see us, we talk to school or parents and carers about other support they can put in place.

What happens when a child or young person is referred to Speech and Language Therapy?

When your child or young person is referred to our service, you can expect:

A first appointment over the phone

The therapist will ask questions about your child or young person’s speech, language, communication or eating and drinking, and any concerns or questions you might have. We will signpost you to useful resources from our digital resource library. This may be enough at this stage and it may be agreed that your child or young person does not need to access any targeted or specialist support at this time.

Appointments in school

If further support is needed, we will book appointments for your child or young person in school. Parents and carers are always welcome to attend appointments in school, or to meet the therapist or assistant before or after the appointment.

Children and young people will be seen for an ‘episode of care’. We will work collaboratively with your child or young person, their family, school and other key people in their life. Once support is in place, we end the episode of care and discharge them. Some children or young people may need another episode of care at another time. Others will not need to see us again if they are well supported by school at a universal level.

Communication profile or mealtime mat

At the end of an episode of care, the therapist will write either a summary letter, an updated communication profile or a mealtime mat. These can be used to update your child or young person’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and their Communication and Health Passport.