Children with speech, language and communication difficulties (5 - 16 years old)
In Herefordshire, the children's speech and language therapy service (SALT) supports children who have a range of speech, language and communication needs. If you have concerns about your child's speech or language development, you should discuss them with your child's teacher or the school SENCO who will advise whether a referral to the SALT team is appropriate. Not all children will need a referral to SALT and can be supported appropriately in school through a graduated approach.
For more information about SALT services, criteria and referral, please visit the SALT section and the children's SALT core service leaflet on the Wye Valley NHS Trust website.
Schools and colleges can help most children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties overcome their difficulties and support them to learn. A few will need more help than their school or college can usually provide and more specialist support may be needed.
Language and Communication Centre at Hampton Dene Primary School
The Language and Communication Centre (LCC) at Hampton Dene Primary School offers the opportunity for children who have a diagnosis of autism or severe speech, language and communication difficulties, to achieve the very best that they can in an environment suited to their individual needs. To attend a class in the LCC a child needs to have both an EHCP (Educational, Health and Care Plan) and meet the entry criteria. Hampton Dene Primary School also manage the autism outreach support to other primary and secondary schools.
Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is when someone uses objects, symbols, charts, photographs, signing and electronic aids to help them to communicate. Children and young people use these when they have difficulties with producing or understanding spoken or written language.
Wye Valley Trust's Speech and Language Therapy service support children and young people who need AAC by using a range of methods, for example developing personalised communication boards and books, using and teaching Signalong, referring to the specialist communication aid service (ACT).
Where symbols are used, Widgit is Herefordshire's preferred system to provide consistent symbols to support communication. Widgit symbol software is a subscription-based online tool which is available to create personalised resources for children and young people who use AAC. Widgit also have a range of free resources on their website that can be downloaded and printed at home. Symbols for All also have AAC resources using a range of symbols.
There are some helpful videos about how to use AAC with your child or young person on the Worcestershire Speech and Language Therapy service's YouTube channel.
Some children and young people move on to use digital AAC devices. There are lots of iPad apps that can be used to support AAC. CALL Scotland have created a poster that shows some of the apps that are available and what they are particularly useful for. You can browse the list of apps on the CALL Scotland website.
To further support children and young people's communication, some settings use 'Signalong', a sign-supported communication based on British Sign Language (BSL). More information for parents and carers about Signalong, including some free resources.
Wye Valley Trust Speech and Language department run regular Signalong courses, please email wvt.salt.hereford@nhs.net for further information.
Speech and language toolkit
You can find out more about how to support your child's speech and language development in the free speech and language toolkit which has been developed by Herefordshire Council and Elklan Training as part of the council's Solid Roots Speech and Language Project.
Children's speech and language therapy resources
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust have lots of resources for parents and carers, including video clips, to help children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties. You can find all of the resources on the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust website.