SALT, shy child, selective mutism and how best to help

[lighteningmcmama]

Hello

My 4.6yo son has just started at a primary school and they want to refer him to SALT. In preschool he had an Individual Education Plan because he didn't really engage in activities or with other children. The IEP helped him a lot and he started to engage in activities and with adults other than his keyworker (who he always communicated with from the beginning and loved).

He is very different at home and with his similar aged cousins- he plays, initiates play, and speaks very well. His speech is completely clear and he is well understood. The problem is not that he can't speak well, but that he doesn't in school. He can read very well.

Having looked into it I'm wondering whether he might have selective mutism (first suggested by a family member who is a primary school teacher, but only suggested after the SALT referral idea has come up).

The school have been very confusing about what the problem areas are and I have requested another meeting.

I would love to get any advice from parents of children who have accessed SALT, especially for selective mutism or for problems along that spectrum (ie the child can physically speak but is shy and doesn't speak). I really want to know what questions I should be asking of the school, and how best I can help him at home.

Many thanks.

[lighteningmcmama]

Thank you so much for your reply. It's helpful to know the strategies that can help. I need to push the school to look into these I think rather than them waiting for outside input especially as it's delayed now that SALT rejected the referral based on us living out of area

I somehow posted this thread t twice, apologies