Speech and Language Therapy Department

Speech and language therapy is concerned with the management of disorders of speech, language, communication and swallowing in children and adults.

The vast majority of the young people within the John Townsend Trust have some level of speech, language and communication needs.

The trust has a philosophy of "pupil-centred communication" whereby each persons’ communicative abilities and needs are recognised in order to allow for the most appropriate form of communication for each individual.

• The SALT department at The John Townsend Trust currently employs one Speech and Language Therapist and two Speech and Language Therapy Assistants who work with young people across the whole trust with a wide range of impairments, disorders, abilities and needs.
• The SALT team strive to work in a Multi Disciplinary way – by working with classroom staff, and other members of the specialist team in order to develop students' communication skills.

Aims of SALT department

• To support the development of the students’ understanding and use of communication and language (speech, written words, symbols, photos, or objects, and/or signing) to the best of their ability.
• To support students to interact with others and develop better relationships.
• To develop staff skills in using a range of strategies that support the development of student communication skills and that promote learning.
• To develop, provide and advise on appropriate resources needed to develop student communication skills and learning.
• To develop and provide appropriate resources for families to support the students at home where necessary.
• To support the organisation to develop and maintain an environment where staff and students use the most appropriate communication system/s and resources effectively and successfully in learning and in leisure.
• To provide workshops and training, as appropriate, for staff on a variety of topics related to communication issues.

What the Salt Department does

• The Speech and Language Therapist conducts assessments, devises targets and therapy programs, writes reports, liaises with and gives advice and support to staff, trains others and provides some therapy sessions.
• The assistants provide support as necessary along this process and carry out the majority of the therapy sessions under the direction of the therapist.
• After assessment, the following types of recommendations may be made to support communication development and access to the communication environment and curriculum:
  1. Environment (e.g. changes to the room to support communication).
  2. Resources (e.g. what resources would support communication).
  3. Communication Modes (e.g. what modes are preferred/effective).
  4. Specific Strategies (e.g. Picture Exchange Communication System, Objects of Reference)
• If there is an identified need for input from the team then speech and language therapy intervention can be provided in a direct and/or indirect way. This includes working with parents and staff to create an optimal communication environment that promotes and encourages functional communication on a daily basis.
• Direct therapy can take any of the following forms according to the needs of the pupils to develop particular skills:
  1. Whole class communication groups
  2. Small focused groups with specific themes e.g. Social Skills
  3. Individual sessions in order to develop specific skills e.g. P.E.C.S.
• The intensity, frequency, and mode of therapy input that is offered will be dependent on many factors, in particular, whether they have provision for speech and language therapy indicated in their Statement of Special Educational Needs.
• Therapy programs are shared with all the key people and reviewed on a regular basis. The SALT team also work with class and residential staff wherever possible to support them to deliver the therapy program or to implement strategies in their settings. Therefore enabling students to have numerous opportunities throughout their day to develop their communication skills rather than once a week.  

The Speech and Language Therapy Team is able to make visual support and communication resources for use at home. Parents are encouraged to contact the team to discuss what is needed.

 If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s communication please phone the speech and language therapy team, pop in, or write in your child’s contact book.