DS2 just had awful SALT session at the school

[Ulysees]

I went along as I was invited and it was awful. He's just started reception in Sept but he struggled so much with why and what questions and even on some stuff aimed at 3 yrs. I got a real shock as I honestly hadn't realised how behind he is. Feeling a bit ashamed really.

The SALT wasn't his usual one and must've been all of 12! Found her really irritating but I put on a smile and pretended to be nice DS2 didn't warm to her either. He normally loves new people but looked as if he'd rather be anywhere but talking to her.

On a postive note his teacher praised him and said she doesn't use the picture cues now and he's settled in really well. I have his open evening next tuesday and was dreading that so that's made me feel a bit better.

I'm thinking of getting the aids the SALT used if I can?

I've emailed LDA to see what they suggest. I know I'm being a bit manic but I have to feel I'm doing something. We'll all make an extra effort now to converse with him more and ask questions.

My mam reckons it's because he didn't like the SALT but tbh she's in denial. It didn't help but we need to realise he is struggling

Can you have a more thorough assessment of where his deficits are before rushing into buying stuff? I've always thought that "Wh" questions are quite sophisticated!! Not sure its a good idea to dispense with the picture cues either just because he's doing well, lots of kids with SN still need visual cues even when they are fully verbal etc. Sorry if I'm talking crap, I don't know anything about your DS.

hi davros, think you;re right about not rushing into buying stuff. Dh and I have been bombarding him with why and what questions tongight and he seems ok He doesn't need picture clues at all as we've never used them and he knows what we mean. His speech is perfect as it's his understanding that they're concerned about.
I had a word with his teacher after school and she wasn't overly impressed with salt. She knows me quite well. Didn't say much as she can't but gave clues iykwim.
He's just gone 5 so I'm not going to worry too much just yet. I've calmed down now but at the assessment I felt like c*&p

Ulysees,sorry about the session.
I'm a salt and have a nearly 5 year old who has lang difficulties.
Davros is right 'wh' questions are very difficult indeed.

What aids was the salt using out of interest?
I have sets of cards which are in pairs.
You present them, a pair at a time with the target question which is answered by the second question.

eg Picture of people in waiting room
(Question: Why are the people waiting?)

Picture of doctor coming into the waiting room
(Answer: To see the doctor)

Would be easy to make some youself,or do personalised ones with a digital camera even!

You could have a real laugh

'Why is mummy on the computer?'
'Because she loves her friends on MN'

'*When does daddy put the rubbish out?'
'Every Friday night'

'Where does granny hide her cigarettes?'
'In the cupboard'

mizz. thanks for the tips.

sorry meant mizmiz

she used cards like the ones you mentioned. Plus she just asked questions. He did so well at first and then seemed to tail off. Lot's of don't know?

Is it possible that the seeion just went on a bit too long and he lost interest? Ds1 always answers "I don't know" or "Can't remember" when he's fed up. Did the SALT try to keep him interested or did she just show him lots of cards?

Hmmm, although cards and pictures are excellent tools I've always thought you need to be careful with them as they can get SOOOO boring. I had to ban them except for very specific programs from our ABA prog. We had to be more creative with progs where we could use 3D cues or do things ourselves etc. Cards are great but can cause switch off!

The salt was awful tbh She was very young though but even so.

She didn't try to keep him interested and seemed very cold and almost robotic. Probably inexperience I suppose. She used the cards mostly and asked some questions, some of which I'm getting more angry about the more I stew.

She asked ds2 if he'd wear a pink shirt. DS2 said yes. She then screwed her face up and said in a voice not disimilar to bonnie langford, "what you'd wear pink, but that's a girls colour?" I said not in our house it isn't. She then changed it to flowery and he said yes to which I replied he has hawaiin flowery shirts, then she said dress and he said yes which he would as he dressed up in friends kids dressing up clothes. Totally p!$$£d off with her tbh.

Oh Ulysees, sorry to hear how rubbish she was but lolololol at your ds challenging her narrow world view!

yes he did but imagine if I hadn't been there?

Mai I apologise on behalf of our profession??

She sounds dreadful.

Davros is right (yet again!)
Cards can be boring and cause switch off. I'd expect 15 mins concentration max. at this age.

I'd be p*ssed off with that too! What stupid questions! No wonder the poor boy was confused.

When will you be able to see the usual SALT again? I suspect they would give you a far more accurate report of his progress. It may well be that your ds was able to do a lot more but that this particular SALT just didn't get how to go about letting him demonstrate it.

Thank goodness they don't all ask stuff like that then.

I asked her when he'd need to be seen again and she said when the school or I think he needs it? His teacher isn't worried so I doubt she'll ask for her again. I hope!

I'll have to say no to her though if it's going to be the same one. I'm mulling over whether to mention her pink questions to the centre?

What STUPID questions, very un-PC for these days. Silly moo!
I think cards can also make tutors/practitioners lazy as they just dole them out and don't think or have to be creative.

My thoughts exactly davros, must say I was a bit taken aback. I just keep thinking thank God I went and could intervene.

Thought I'd update. We had DS2s open night and his teacher is very pleased with him. Said he's a sweet little boy and she treats him no differently to the others. She thought the comments were inappropriate. I knew she wasn't overly impressed but she made it clear that the colour questions were wrong. Her last comment was it's all positive. Dh and I floated out of there

Quick update. DS2 is still doing well at school, reading really well

Next tuesday he has to go to see the paediatrician and I'm going to mention the comments that the SALT made. I just shudder to think I may not have been at that meeting to put her straight Can't imagine the doc will be overly impressed and it'll be interesting to hear her view?

Good luck with the Paed appointment. I've just re-read the whole thread again and still can't believe how stupid those SALT questions were!!

Thanks coppertop I've just remembered I must ring a taxi for the morning as his appointment is 9am. Have to drop ds1 at my friend's house so she can take him to school.

Hope I can keep calm when I start telling her of the SALT's comments?

pmsl at the idea that cards make practitioners lazy so they don't have to think and be creative!

A lazy, uncreative practioner will be lazy and unproductive even with home-made cards!

Lemmee see....a caseload of about 50 kids (rising all the time), all in mainstream schools...across three counties....on three days a week.....with the travelling in between, report writing, planning, meetings, reviews, training days....phone calls....liaison with SENCOs.

When should we make our own resources? Sitting at the traffic lights? Hey...schools could leave coloured pencils in the toilets - we could do a quick bit of colouring-in while we have a wee

Sorry, but that comment was really funny

mogwai are you a SALT?

Mogwai is a SLT (I think). BTW, I didn't say that flash cards make SLTs lazy and uncreative but I've certainly seen it with non-professional practitioners/tutors etc.