Overfields Primary School - Additionally Resourced Provision for Speech and Language Difficulties

There are 2 full time equivalent teachers 2 (unit Coordinator is a specialist teacher), 3 Specialist Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) and 3 Special Needs teaching assistants. 

A child accessing language unit provision may present with severe and persistent difficulties with receptive and or expressive language difficulties or an articulation or phonological disorder. Children may have a combination of these difficulties and may have associated social communication difficulties. 

There are 20 places over Key Stage 1 and 2, 4 places in Foundation stage for children 3+ and 10 places supported through specialist outreach education within Redcar & Cleveland and Middlesbrough 92 Education Authorities. Transport is usually provided by the Local Authority if travelling over 3 miles. 

Type of placement is given according to need and is decided termly at the Language Unit panel. Full time SLU placement (4 ½ days with Friday pm in mainstream school), Part-time SLU placement (5 mornings), Part[1]time Foundation Stage placement (5 mornings Reception and 4 mornings nursery, with Friday spent in their mainstream school). 

The children who receive support from the Speech and Language unit (SLU) will be dual registered and remain on the role of their mainstream school and assessment data for the D.F.E is recorded with their home school. There is an expectation that the majority of children will return to their mainstream school when their needs can be met within this school and with the support of the local mainstream Speech and Language therapy service if required. Outreach Provision consists of 2 weekly sessions for up to 3 terms. 

Intervention will consist of assessment and therapy. SLU staff can act in an advisory capacity in relation to learning & access to curriculum. All children have a termly review where progress and level of support is closely monitored. 

All the children attending the Overfields SLU will receive a balance of specialist speech and language therapy support and a differentiated access to the National Curriculum subjects appropriate to their needs. The full-time children will integrate into the mainstream classes on an afternoon with additional support. 

Entry and exit from the Unit is decided at a termly panel attended by the speech and language unit staff, therapists, and representatives from both LAs and the Psychological service. A child in SEN ranges 3 or 4 will be considered for unit provision if their speech and/or language disorder is their primary need and their difficulties impact on their ability to access the curriculum. 

The child will be known to the Speech and Language Therapy Service and will have received input and therapy from them previously. The Therapist will have assessed their need and found they require a more intensive level of therapy and specialist support. 

The child will also be known to an Educational Psychologist who has identified that the speech and language difficulty is their primary need. The Educational Psychologist will recommend that the child be considered for discussion at the termly panel.