Speech and Language delays with my 6 year old - help me please........

[Sandie370]

Hello one and all... I am new to this so please bear with me..... I have a beautiful happy 6 year old who suffers with several "issues" including Hyper-mobility syndrome, Speech and Language delay and Chromosome imbalance. My main concern today is to do with her Speech and Language.. Following a recent detailed assessment, the results of which are very poor and although this is no surprise to me (her mother) the reading of the assessment always makes me feel sad and vulnerable.... I have spoken today with my daughters Headmaster regarding an up and coming hospital appointment and during the conversation he
just happened to mention that maybe my daughter would get the help she needed if she attended an alternative school.......... She currently has one to one full time but I was wondering if anyone knew, does he have the powers to MAKE her move schools or is there something else that he should be trying in order to help the school meet her needs? OR are we able to obtain any grants or funding to allow her to attend private speech therapy out of school? Many thanks

Repost this on the SN children board, and you'll get lots of help from knowledgable Mums.

agree with Indigo - there are lots of people on the SN board who have vast experience.

Firstly - does your dd have a statement?

Technically, no one can make your dd move schools - but the school could say they can no longer meet her needs. You do have the right to choose a mainstream education, if that is what you prefer for your dd, but you need a well written statement, outlining your dd's needs and how they will be met, and a school who are happy to meet those needs.

If your dd does have a statement already, and the school is not meeting the needs outlined in the statement, then yes, you can make the LA provide what is legally your dd's right (whatever is in a statement is legally binding). no staff/not enough room on caseload etc is not a goo enough reason for the LA to not provide this - they need to find the staff, or find the money for the service to be delivered privately.

Cerebra (I think) used to have a speech therapy fund - ask on the SN board and people will know.

Is it a state school?

Hi Sandie, there are different views regarding SN provision. Some people hold the view that Mainstream education is every child's right, so it is the LA's responsibility to provide anything that would make that possible. They are right. (The test is whether the provision is compatible with efficient education of other children). Other people think that Specialist schools are the best place for some children with SN.

The thing to be aware of is that the two types of school will approach the same need in different ways.

Mainstream schools will generally provide extra adult assistance, from a Teaching assistant, to supplement the teaching in the classroom. SALT work is normally provided as an 'extra', whereby the child is withdrawn from part of the day to do some specific activities.

Special schools often have a 'whole school curriculum' for their SALT work. In other words, the SALT work is woven into all parts of the day. For example, in DD1's school, Makaton is used at all times alongside speech, by the teaching staff, support staff, and receptionists, etc. The SALTs do 'language groups' at set times, then the teaching staff continue the focussed elements throughout the school day.

Your question was "does he have the powers to MAKE her move schools or is there something else that he should be trying in order to help the school meet her needs?"

My answer would be 'don't think this is a negative thing until you have seen all the schools available'.

Special school places are rare as hen's teeth. If you are being told that your school would support your DD's move to one, it really is worth investigating.