Providing support for children with Communication Difficulties

1. Providing support for children with Communication Difficulties Jane Razagui Specialist Advisory Service February 2018

2. In the UK, over 1 million children and young people – that’s 2 – 3 in every UK classroom – have some form of long term and persistent speech, language and communication difficulty. This can affect them early, severely and for life. • In areas of poverty, over 50% of children are starting school with delayed communication skills. Their speech may be unclear, vocabulary is smaller, sentences are shorter and they are able to understand only simple instructions. Many of these children can catch up with the right support. • Poor language is linked to poor behaviour even in very young children. 2 in 3 language delayed 3 year olds have behaviour problems. • A number of recent Ofsted reports note that a common feature of the most successful schools surveyed was the attention they gave to developing speaking and listening. The Communication Trust

3. What are the difficulties? Expressive language: • Speech sound production? • Poor sentence formation? • Limited vocabulary? Receptive Language: • Poor comprehension? Pragmatics: • Poor social language skills?

4. Speech sound production • Use the speech sound assessment tool in the SAS assessment tool kit (page 26) to ascertain whether the child is at normal developmental levels or not. • Use the common problems page (page 27) in the assessment tool kit to ascertain whether to refer to a speech and language therapist. ctd..

5. Speech sound production – resources / tips • POPAT phonics not only helps with spelling and reading, but also sound production. • Some pupils who are able to read find it easier to pronounce sounds when reading. • www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk (CSLT tool kit) – Speech Sounds tab – use only in conjunction with speech therapy reports. • Black Sheep Press worksheets.

6. Poor expressive language – resources available • Developing spoken language through structured play, interactions and modelling – see CDC’s recommended strategies. • Sentence Builder (as modelled by J Razagui in POPAT training sessions) • Black Sheep Press Narrative Therapy, Language through Listening • Black Sheep Press – barrier worksheets pack – to develop key words. • www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk (CSLT tool kit) – see Expressive Language tab. link • https://www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk– search for First Call - Expressive language tab - some general ideas.

7. Expressive language – strategies and resources ctd • Communication trust Progression Toolkits (free from The Communication Trust) – these do have some suggestions of activities. • RELEASS SLCN booklet • Pre- teaching / individualised teaching. • Supporting new vocabulary with pictures / symbols . • Symwriter 2 (Widgit) • Time to Talk (Reception KS1) - Alison Schroeder – LDA - £22.99

8. Poor comprehension – strategies and resources • Developing receptive language and vocabulary through structured play, interactions and modelling – see CDC’s recommended strategies. • Use simplified language / language at the key word level the child is operating at (Key word level activities in the Leeds Tool Kit - Understanding Language tab); Black Sheep Press – Barrier Worksheets pack. • Be aware of how many instructions a child can follow at any one time.

9. Poor comprehension – strategies and resources ctd. • Pre-teaching of vocabulary (supported by images wherever possible) / individualised teacher input lessons e.g. a TA could have a copy of a PowerPoint and deliver the content at the CYP’s level of understanding and pace. • Symwriter 2 (Widgit) • www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk (CSLT tool kit) – Attention and Listening tab - lots of activities for all ages; Understanding of Language tab – activities to develop specific areas of understanding e.g. prepositions / activities at certain key word levels. • RELEASS SLCN booklet. • To develop inference skills: Mr Goodguess (Black Sheep Press).

10. Poor social use of language – resources • The Social Use of Language Programme (SULP) (Wendy Rinaldi). • Talkabout series (Alex Kelly) - for all age groups (approx £35) • Black Sheep Press – various packs e.g. KS1 Talking about friends _ situational understanding, KS3 / 4 Talking about Conversations - Social skills, Talkabout Community – Social skills, • Time to Talk (Reception KS1) - Alison Schroeder – LDA (£22.99) • Socially Speaking published by Alison Schroeder - LDA (Approx £20) • www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk (CSLT tool kit) – Social Skills and Interaction tab – lots of resources. • https://www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk– search for First Call - Social Communication tab • RELEASS SLCN booklet • Social Skills games (various available) • Lego therapy

11. Whole school development • Elklan training • www.slcframework.org.uk (Speech, Language and Communication Framework, part of The Communication Trust) - a free online professional development tool which sets out the key skills and knowledge needed by the children and young people's workforce to support the speech, language and communication development of all children and young people . • www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk – free online training

12. Useful websites / resources • https://literacytrust.org.uk • www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk (CSLT tool kit) • https://www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk– search for First Call • https://www.blacksheeppress.co.uk(Narrative Therapy etc.) • www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk - request the free ‘Universally Speaking’ resource booklets; free online training. • www.talkingpoint.org.uk – you can do a simple assessment of a pupil you have concerns about (including KS3 pupils) which leads to further questioning and some general strategies. ctd

13. Useful websites / resources ctd. • www.icancharity.org.uk – lots of information and resources available for purchase. • Talk Boost by Ican – training and resources, but at a cost. • www.speechteach.co.uk – free speech therapy games

14. Symwriter 2 • SymWriter 2 is a symbol-supported word processor that any writer, regardless of literacy levels, can use to create documents. • Writers of any age or ability can use the Widgit Symbols to see the meaning of words as they type, supporting access to new or challenging vocabulary. • Cost: £149 for 1 licence, £349 for 5 licenses, £499 for 10 licenses – 25% discount

15. Writing • Write with symbols or text • Environments supports new and emergent writers • Create your own or use pre-made environments • Download free and low-cost environments • Show symbol choices, even in text mode • Adjustable text and symbol size • Import graphics to support specific words

16. Images • The Widgit Symbol Set in colour and black & white • Easily import photographs and pictures • Recolour symbols and change skin tones • Copy and paste to and from other applications (Ctrl+Alt+C and Ctrl+Alt+V) Support • Smart Symbolising based on parts of speech • Spell checking with symbols • Full speech support • Full access for one or two switches and switch scanning

17. Example of child’s work