Speech & Language
🗣️ Speech and Language Therapy
Helping every child to communicate
At Middleton School, we work closely with the NHS Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) Team to support every child to develop their speech, language and communication skills.
Communication is an important part of learning, developing friendships, expressing needs, making choices and accessing the curriculum. Our Speech and Language Therapy Team works alongside children, families and school staff to make communication support part of everyday school life.
📋 Speech and Language Therapy and EHCPs
When a child joins Middleton with Speech and Language Therapy identified in their EHCP, we assess their needs and agree appropriate communication targets with their class teacher. Support may change as their needs develop, and children can be referred/re-referred if a new communication need arises.
What can Speech and Language Therapy support?
Our Speech and Language Therapy Team can support children across a range of speech, language and communication needs.
This may include:
💬 Understanding of language
🗣️ Using language
👄 Speech sounds
📱 Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
🎯 Functional communication
🤝 Social interaction
🗨️ Fluency of speech
🍽️ Eating and drinking
Supporting Communication Every Day
Speech and Language Therapy is integrated into the school day wherever possible, helping children develop and practise communication skills in familiar, meaningful situations.
Depending on their individual needs, support may include:
- Individual or small-group therapy
- Support within the classroom
- Working alongside teachers and support staff
- Developing and embedding individual communication targets
- Adapting language, visuals and communication approaches
- Providing staff with advice, strategies and training
Communication strategies are most effective when they are part of everyday life. We therefore encourage a consistent approach across school and at home.
🌈 Our Core Communication Principles
Communication is everyone's responsibility
At Middleton School, we have nine core communication principles – “The Special 9”- that are used across the whole school.
These principles help us to create a consistent, communication-friendly environment where every child is supported to understand and communicate in a way that works for them.
They are also practical strategies that parents and carers can use at home.
👨👩👧 Contact
Parents and carers are welcome to contact the team at any time with questions or concerns about their child's communication.
🔗 Find Out More
For further information about Speech and Language Therapy, please visit the Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust Speech and Language Therapy website.