SALT report for EHCP...I'm confused

[HHH3]

DS2 is 3.7 and is being assessed for EHCP. I got his SALT report yesterday. Very detailed and says he needs 'highly intensive SALT', 'highly individualised techniques' and 'a keyworker in school designated' to carry this out.

But in the outcomes it doesn't mention any of this at all. It says he needs 20hrs/visits a year for direct or indirect intervention including time for reports/reviews. Within these allocated hours:

'The SALT/assistant will demonstrate and model specific SLT activities and strategies to named staff members and parents as outlined on the SALT programme. DS will have opportunities to practice his targets 3-4 times each week for short structured sessions in line with his level of attention. DS's teaching staff will implement natural opportunities for DS to practise his targets across activities in his everyday learning environment on a daily basis.'

Should I be worried about this as it doesn't seem to match what she's written previously? Or am I understanding it wrong?

I know if I'm not happy I have to speak to the SALT but the deadline is 12th August and she works term time only so I can't contact her still September.

Feeling a bit lost and confused about the whole thing.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Dont take this as gospel as I am only just getting my head around outcomes but I think that an Outcome would be what you want him to achieve in terms of SAL within a set time eg "By the end of nursery xxx is to be able to make requests to meet his basic needs"

Then the provision needed to reach the Outcome goes in part F which is where the direct and indirect therapy goes and the training for TA's and Teachers!

I hope that helps.

I would contact IPSEA or SOSSEN or Educational Equality or Talking SENse or one of the other charities and talk it through with them.

You can stop the clock on finalising the plan by arranging a meeting with your LA officer and making a few small changes. Everytime they issue a new draft the 15 days starts again.

HTH

[HHH3]

Yes, sorry, it's got 'suggested outcomes' - so DS will be able to do x, y and z. Then it's got outcomes in a column which is blank and then this other stuff under 'how outcome will be met and proposed allocation of therapy'.

It'd be easier if I could post it here but it has his name in it so obviously I don't want to.

I do think I need some advice though, you're right.

[HHH3]

Oh, and we haven't got parts (eg part F) yet as this is the SALT report rather then the draft EHCP. I'm just really worried about the reports not being good enough which means I can't fight for provision that is good enough iyswim.

[amunt]

The very positive thing is that you have those specific recommendations from the SALT in a report, which makes it more difficult for the LA to ignore. In my limited experience the outcomes can be pretty arbitrary, it's the section F provision that counts. As said above, contact IPSEA or SOSSEN and you could also email your LA officer and ask what is the time frame for you seeing section F. If SALT recommendations are not there, you need to ask why and definitely get advice.

[HHH3]

Should the SALT recommendations be specified and quantified. I know it has to be in the EHCP but how do they do that if the advice from SALT doesn't tell them what exactly is needed?

[Ineedmorepatience]

The SALT report should be quantified and specified yes. Most NHS ones aren't though.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Yes it should.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Lol sorry rubbish signal and didnt think it had posted

[HHH3]

Lol! Thanks.

A friend who's a SALT had a look at it earlier and had to pick her jaw up off the floor! Not only is it not specified and quantified but after it saying he needs intensive, highly specialised SALT with access to advice from highly specialist therapists they've said he needs 20hrs a year. And then they take off time for report writing, attending reviews etc.

That doesn't even begin to make sense and I will be challenging it every step of the way.

Have called and left a message for the therapist's manager as the therapist works term time only.

[youarenotkiddingme]

Do you have an email address for salt? I'd email for clarification.

Repeat back what has been said eg high intensive salt input and then ask for clarification that this the 20hrs a year covers this.

Then simply ask for them to specify what their hours will cover, what they will be doing, how the 20hiurs will be split over a year etc.

I know some children who have been given 10 hours and this is covered by salt coming once a month and observing then for 10 minutes and then writing update on how they are doing, informing staff what to do and if needed writing next steps.

They don't get any direct salt as such and it drives me nuts!

[HHH3]

No email address for her and even if I did she's not there until September so it'd be pointless. That's why I've asked to speak to her manager.

20hrs is ridiculous. And time is taken out of that for reports, reviews etc. It does say about training. But this is a little boy who at 3.7 has targets of blending one vowel and one consonant together fgs!

It also has things like 'access to' which just isn't good enough. It does say direct SALT 3-4 times a week for as long as his attention span (or words to that effect). But the report also states his attention span is 2-3 mins so that would give him a max of 12 mins of direct SALT a week. He needs far more than that.

[youarenotkiddingme]

Yeah I'd asked for it more specific. So x amount of time direct salt, c amount for training staff, and for attention span is ask for it to be 3x a day (or whatever) for 3 minutes increasing to 5 minutes by y time.

[HHH3]

That's actually really helpful - thank-you. If they haven't rung by this afternoon I'll ring again. The deadline is next Friday so not much time.

[HHH3]

Just to update...spoke to the manager earlier. I actually got the impression she agreed with me although she obviously didn't say that. She's written down everything I said and is going to bring it up with the SALT when she's back in December. She also said that at the planning meeting it can be changed and it's not set in stone.

Then she asked me what I was thinking about for primary school and seemed shocked when I was less than enthusiastic about our nearest school with a S&L unit...felt like I'd committed some sort of Cardinal sin! But that's not something I need to worry about right now.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Glad the manager was helpful and hope it gets sorted! When you do get a draft make sure speech and language needs are in part B and the provision is in part F! There is case law which agrees that SALT is an educational need but lots if LA's "forget" and put it in the health bit!

Good luck

[Ineedmorepatience]

A draft EHCP that should have said

[HHH3]

Thanks! I've just screenshot your post as my memory is appalling and I'd probably forget Although I do have an independent supporter helping me which has been fantastic so far.

[youarenotkiddingme]

Go you HHH straight on it and being heard

[HHH3]

Thank-you I have to say I've learnt so much just from reading these boards and all the amazing posters. As soon as I said 'specified and quantified' to her her whole attitude changed and I could almost hear her sit up in her seat and start listening

[Ineedmorepatience]

Brilliant

Parent power

[HHH3]

They're going to learn fast that you don't mess with me when it comes to my DCs

[youarenotkiddingme]

I remember you when you forst cane to the boards. That you were so sure what support yiur DS needed, noted things the professionals didn't and how on the ball you were.
It's not great ro be proved right iyswim but you've certainly been amazing in getting support for yiur DS and I've no doubt you'll continue

[HHH3]

Thank-you! That's so nice of you. And I'm really surprised you remembered me at all!

I do have to say that in the last few months things have started to move finally. Paed listened to me and referred to genetics. Seen genetics and just waiting for results now. He's got a place at the nursery and the EHCP process has started. So all of a sudden we've gone from everyone telling me he's fine/just a bit delayed to actually listening to me.

But I still have to remind myself daily to trust my gut. Every single time I've been right but I still doubt myself. At the moment everyone seems to be seeing the coming year at this nursery as a year when he's going to improve massively. My gut says that isn't the case. And then I wonder if I'm wrong. And then I remind myself my gut is always right. And then I doubt myself again...

Wish I had a crystal ball sometimes just so I could see whether I'm right or wrong! Then I could stop worrying

[youarenotkiddingme]

He may well make leaps and bounds within his own capabilities. But he won't don't without the support being in place. And I've no doubt you'll make sure it is

[HHH3]

Oh yes, I do think he'll make progress. But I don't think he'll be talking well enough to just slot into a mainstream school next September. But yes, I'll be pushing for all the support I can get for him.

Although my worry at the moment is his understanding. Last Nov (at 2.11) his understanding was age appropriate. When he was assessed again at 3.6 his understanding was 2.10. So that hasn't progressed at all. And I have to say I do agree with it - I've noticed he's not understanding things more and more.