Speech and Language
As children learn to talk, they can often need support with sound production (speech) and/or putting words together to say clear sentences (language). At Fairlight Primary and Nursery School, all children entering Reception have their language skills assessed to check whether they need additional support with their language learning. This may take the form of individual speech work or be part of a language group such as NELI. It is quite usual for children to enter school from Nursery with a Speech and Language Plan from the NHS, following a referral by the Health Visitor and these will be closely monitored by the Speech and Language through the Reception year.
 
Children that are part of the NELI Language Group during Reception (a 20 week language intervention more info) will have their language monitored and further interventions such as Talk Boost or Narrative Groups in Years 1 and 2 may be needed. If more specialised support from the Speech and Language Therapy Team (NHS) is required, teachers will inform parent and carers of next steps.
 

The school works very closely with the Speech and Language Therapy Team (NHS) and their colleagues within the Language and Autism Team (BHISS) to have termly meetings to plan support for pupils with a communication need. Children on their caseloads will then receive support from either team and feedback to the Inclusion Team to implement strategies within school. Speech and Language Therapists write Plans and Goals that help school to focus on the child’s individual language needs; these may be added to Individual Support Plans or a targeted intervention may be delivered by our Specialist Language Teacher within school.

 

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is diagnosed when children fail to acquire their own language for no obvious reason. This results in children who have difficulty understanding what people say to them, and struggle to articulate their ideas and feelings. You can find out more informarion about DLD here.

 

Current Interventions within Fairlight are as follows and each one aims to develop speech and language skills so that only children with persistent difficulties need a high level of support within Key Stage 2.

Intervention

Year

Time frame

Skills

School Start

Nursery

30 weeks

Vocabulary, speech sounds, simple sentences

NELI

Reception

30 weeks

Listening, vocabulary, grammar, sentences

Talk Boost

Year 1

20 weeks

Listening, vocabulary, grammar, extending sentences

Story-Telling

Years 1& 2

40 weeks

Daily story to strengthen Narrative Skills such as who, where, what, when, where questions.

Talk Boost

Year 2

20 weeks

Listening, vocabulary, grammar, complex sentences

Narrative Skills

Year 3

20 weeks

Putting all the above skills together to form coherent re-telling of events and stories.

 
Top Language Tips
1.  Talk about what you are doing to model sentences clearly.
2.  Say the first sound of words and clap the word parts (eg ba-na-na).
3.  Take photos of family outings to recall what you did first, next, last. Even going to the shops counts!
4.  Ask what words mean as you talk and read.
5.  Play is a great way to practise language. This can be board games or playing at the park.
Top Games to Play
1. Headbanz (children's version) TourKing HedBanz Game-Guess What’s am I/Card Games Party Board Game for Kids Friends and Families
2. Pass the Bomb (Kids Edition) Piatnik - Pass the Bomb Junior
3. 5 Second Rule PlayMonster 5 Second Rule Electronic Family Board Game & GF002 5 Second Rule  Junior Family Card Game, Multi : Amazon.co.uk: Outlet
4. Tell Me Tell Me Quiz : Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games
5. Guess Who Guess Who? – Badgers Games

If you have any concerns around your child’s speech and language skills then please speak first with their classteacher

who can then involve the Inclusion Team.