Question about SALT funding please?

[genieinabottle]

Hi, just wondering who will fund SALT coming into school to see DS twice termly?
That is to do a short assessment/review of his level, write up targets and strategies and go through these with LSA who is supposedly going to work with DS on these targets.

Does this come out of the school's SEN budget?
Or is it the primary care trust that funds it?

DS (asd) is nearly 5, and in reception on action+ (not statemented).

Thanks.

NHS funded it for DS, when in reception; I had to take him to appointments. I think LEA funded it when he had SALT in Yr1.

Genie

It could be either but my guess is the PCT, I am not 100% certain though.

What I am certain of though is that your DS won't get very much SALT and this is particularly so if there is no statement in place (he will need a statement for a place in a language unit).

Was wondering where you were with regards to making a Statement application?.

It will be the PCT, who charge the LA for the service as a whole, which is why they present the lame argument against ABA tribunal action that 'SALT wouldn't actually cost the LA anything for this child, as it is a whole-service charge regardless of who is accessing it' or somesuch line.

Usuauly the school have to buy in services from the PCT, unless the lea have their own salt, it may be that sn schools offer outreach to support children in ms.
Varies from area to area.

I see. Thanks for replies.

Our SALT is not working for the LEA as such, she is NHS.

The reason i asked the question is that at our meeting with school senco and HT 2 weeks ago, they said we should be aware that SALT visiting DS in school will not be a long term thing and soon or later it will stop but not to worry as the LSA who will work on salt targets with DS will take over and do an exellent job... blah blah.

I was quite at hearing this since SALT hasn't even been yet to school to see DS, and already they were warning us this provision would stop at one point.

And naturally i thought if school/LEA are having to fund for this then i can see why it would stop rather sooner than later, iyswim.

I think it varies from area to area.

Under 5 it is the remit of health outside of school, but in Nursery it can then be part of the provision bought in by the LA.

The SALT will fight against extra provision for your ds because they only get so many hours and they have to see as many children as they can with that. If you win more that means another child gets less usually. BUT that is then THEIR problem to go back to the LA and say they haven't commissioned enough for the needs in the area, NOT your problem.

my SALT (NHS) said that when we start to receive therapy in school, our NHS therapy will end. She made it sound (although wasn't explicit) that it is a different team within the same service and that they are paid by LEA. (Maybe i was reading between too man lines though)...