Speech & Language Therapy for Schools
Elevate your students’ communication skills
From one-on-one therapy to school-wide programs, Unlocking Language delivers comprehensive speech & language solutions for schools. We bring expert speech therapy directly to schools, ensuring confident and effective classroom interactions.
- Individual & Group Speech Therapy
- Classroom Support to access curriculum
- Universal screening tools
- Evidence-based interventions
- Teacher CPD & Lesson plans
Early Years
We provide comprehensive assessments and reports, which evaluate sound awareness, speech, spoken language, phonics, vocabulary and auditory comprehension. We train staff in a range of screening tools which help them decide whether the child has SLCN needs and determine the type of intervention they may require. At this stage we also show you how to streamline EAL versus SLCN.
Unlocking Language’s approach to intervention is guided by two key principles:
- Evidence-based intervention
- Classroom Support to access curriculum
To learn more about our specialist services for primary schools, please contact us if you would like our online induction pack to what we offer primary schools.
Key Stages 1 and 2
Unlocking Language offers thorough assessments and reports to schools, diving deep into both written and spoken language, vocabulary, and comprehension in its various forms. As the academic curriculum intensifies, many speech and language challenges become prominent in secondary school. Our approach, rooted in evidence-based intervention, ensures pupils get targeted support tailored to their unique needs. We prioritize:
- Evidence-driven therapies in both individual and group environments.
- Classroom strategies to facilitate curriculum access for every student.
Empowering educators is core to our mission; we train staff in effective classroom strategies, encompassed in our competitive pricing. By collaborating with educational psychologists and dyslexia experts, we champion a comprehensive approach, addressing cognition, language, phonics, reading, writing, and social skills.
Secondary
Unlocking Language offers schools in-depth assessments and reports, meticulously analysing both written and spoken language, vocabulary, comprehension capacities, and the intricate skills of inference and descriptive writing.
It’s not uncommon for students with Speech and Language Communication Needs (SLCN) to face heightened challenges during secondary school, as curriculum demands escalate. Our specialised approach is anchored in:
- Employing evidence-based interventions.
- Ensuring classroom strategies that enhance curriculum accessibility.
Beyond this, our goal is to nurture students’ independence, leveraging self-assessment checklists and facilitating exam and study skill groups. Our collaboration with educational psychologists and dyslexia experts ensures a comprehensive support system, enriching students’ cognition, language, reading, and spelling abilities. We actively engage with English and Humanities departments to fortify writing and verbal skills, while our initiatives with the Science, Maths, and IT sectors prioritize vocabulary enhancement, especially crucial given the sophisticated terms introduced at this academic phase. As a tangible aid, we’ve curated visual subject dictionaries tailored for students with SLCN, ensuring comprehension is never compromised.
College and Higher Education Settings
Unlocking Language is dedicated to assisting schools with holistic language assessments and reports, delving deep into written and spoken language, comprehension, vocabulary, inference, and creative writing. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by students during these pivotal academic years, we offer specialised support tailored to their academic needs and the social demands of evolving environments.
Our approach is underpinned by two pivotal pillars:
- bust, evidence-based interventions.
- Tailored classroom strategies for optimal curriculum engagement.
We prioritise fostering self-reliance in students, equipping them with self-help checklists and immersive exam and study skill groups. By collaborating seamlessly with educational psychologists and dyslexia experts, we ensure students receive comprehensive support enhancing their cognition, language, and reading prowess. Together, we’ll craft strategies to elevate writing and spoken skills, placing a keen emphasis on understanding the intricate vocabulary introduced during this phase. Moreover, our unique visual subject dictionaries, designed specifically for students with SLCN, make comprehension both engaging and effective.
Advocating long-term collaboration
Championing a holistic whole school approach
Many of our partnered schools choose long-term collaboration with Unlocking Language, benefiting from regular sessions where our therapists enhance your team’s proficiency in assisting pupils with SLCN. Recognising varied needs, we also cater to one-off assessments or treatments for distinct students and extend our expertise to pupil referral and behavioural units.
Championing a holistic “whole school” approach, we offer comprehensive training modules, imparting hands-on techniques to facilitate student learning in classrooms. Additionally, we’re proud to present accredited training programmes in association with iCan and Elklan.
Your questions answered
Can’t find the answer to your question? Give us a call, our customer service team would love to help.
How do I know if a student needs speech and language therapy?
Recognising when a pupil needs speech and language therapy can be crucial for their development. If you notice a student struggling with speech clarity, having difficulty learning new words at the same pace as their peers, or facing challenges in social interactions, it may be time to seek professional support. The first step is to arrange an assessment for the student. Once you’ve obtained signed consent, a qualified Speech and Language Therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the best course of action. If you’re unsure or need more information about the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We’re here to provide guidance and answer any questions you may have, ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive in their communication skills.
What's the referral process?
The process begins with a quick referral form, ensuring we match the student with the most suitable therapist. You can then schedule the assessment at a convenient time for the student. This comprehensive 45-50 minute session evaluates various areas based on the specific concerns. Within a week, you’ll receive a detailed report of the assessment findings, providing valuable insights into the student’s needs and progress.
Is a assessment necessary for every student?
We typically advise an assessment to establish a baseline for the student’s needs and provide valuable classroom support strategies. However, a full assessment may not always be necessary. For instance, if a recent comprehensive evaluation (within the last six months) is available and deemed sufficient by our therapist, we may proceed without a new assessment. Additionally, in cases of mild speech production difficulties, a full assessment might not be required. Our approach is tailored to each student’s specific situation and needs.
Can the reports be used as EHCP evidence?
Our comprehensive screener thoroughly evaluates all aspects of speech and language development. For children and young people with specific needs, we offer specialised subsets of assessments. The results from these targeted evaluations can be included in reports for EHCP assessments, providing valuable insights into the individual’s unique communication profile and support requirements.
How many sessions would a student need?
After completing the assessment, we’ll provide you with a draft provision map outlining estimated sessions needed to achieve initial targets. The exact number of sessions required for your student to reach their full potential may vary, depending on their specific challenges, learning style, and rate of progress. Ongoing communication between parents, school staff, and other professionals, coupled with regular assessments, enables your therapist to offer a more accurate prognosis and tailor the therapy plan accordingly.
Speak to us today about your Student's SLT needs
Contact us today to learn more about how our speech and language therapy services can make a difference in your student’s life. Whether you have questions about our services or want to schedule an appointment, our friendly team is here to help. Together, we can support your student in developing the communication skills they need to thrive.
