speech problems and statments

[janx]

Ds has severe speech delay and although he is just three, I am thinking about what will happen when he goes to school. When I asked about statments his speech therapists said she had never heard of a child with just speech problems getting a statement - is that right?

Nope that is not true...and you can request a statutory assessment from your local authority at any time- check out the IPSEA website or SOS SEN.
Children can get a statement from as early as 2 years old...don't let them fob you off

Thanks - it wasn't the age she was talking about it was the fact he doesn't have any other problems apart from speech delay

Please don't shout me down in flames here and I'm all for not being fobbed off by the professionals but we can't just shout get a statement at every turn.
Do you have regular speech therapy? And is in a preschool setting? The LEA has to be satisfied that a child's needs are not being met at preschool or school. Do you feel this is the case?

I am not shouting about anything - I am asking about other people's experiences as I don't know much about statements. He doesn't have regular speech therapy - he as at nursery but not a school nursery.

I know you weren't, it was a general comment. I know a fair bit so here to help if I can. Can you give a bit more info. How often does he get therapy and where and how does he cope and nursery cope with him.

He copes ok, but doesn't really have any friends - we live in a different borough to his nursery, so accessing provision has been difficult. His link therapist is leaving her job this week and we have had 3 weekly one to one sessions in Feb and before that we saw her In October for 3 sessions. She has modelled a group at nursery for the nursery workers to run, which they try to do once a week. The staff are lovely, but they don't understand much of what he says. I have been asking for months if they could access some makaton training as we use it a bit at home and it helps with his frustration

Depending on your area you may need a speech/language diagnosis to get a statment. Where DD goes to school it is my understanding that 10 hours 1:1 per week are given for a speech/language disorder/delay which is supported in literacy and numeracy. Maybe best to contact the school you are hoping to send your DS to and speak to the SENCO for advice.

Statements aren't the only way of ensuring that your child's needs are meant - a nursery can have makaton training and provide all kinds of other support if they are creative and good at their job! It's the neediest 1% of the school population who have complex and severe SEN who generally get statements. Talk to your nursery again as it sounds like they could be doing a lot more (not necessarily meaning loads of extra work either).

Statements are the surest way of getting needs met particularly if there are social/communication issues. This is also the case the further up the child progresses through the school system (I have seen too many children languish on SA plus as well). Anything short of a statement is not legally binding and as such support is more limited.

OP your speech therapist is talking rubbish. Round here, if you want your child to get into a speech and language unit, they have to have a statement. No chance without. In fact, I know a child who has verbal dyspraxia and no other problems - he got a statement specifically so that he could access the unit.

You are doing exactly the right thing by investigating now. It would be worth you talking to parent partnership as well to see what the best approach is and what your options are where you live. It sounds lke you are getting woeful support at the moment from the nursery and from the speech therapists (unfortunately, this is all too common).

You can absolutely start the statementing process yourself (I did) but you will need support from the professionals (whether NHS or private). I would push for a diagnosis if you haven't already got one.

hi, i have a four year old that does not talk yet and he is being statemented, have a meeting tomorrow to see if he has any other underlined problems apart from his speech, in one way hoping they have found something just so i know what the delay is as have three other children who were all fine.

definately go for a statement. I have DS who also wouldnt fall into the severe special needs category but he does have multiple and complex needs (moderate verbal and motor dyspraxia, hypermobility, ASD traits). He is statemented and the provision (and peace of mind) it has given him and us is as Attila says invaluable.
We started the statementing process purely because with DS social and communication problems, he was unable to access the curriculum. Now, with legally binding and appropriate suppoert, he is thriving in Year 1. If your DS has a severe language delay and needs a speech unit, you HAVE to have a statement.

Thanks for all your advice everyone...will definately look into statements now

When my ds was in a mainstream pre-school nursery (albeit parttime) they started doing 2 15-20 minute small groups to work on communication but basically turn-taking, playing games etc each session every day. This was part of an inclusive approach to ds and following advice from our (private) SALT for our non-speaking 3-3 1/2 year old. (NHS one didn't "do" visits.)
They also incorporated basic signs into the sessions where possible.
They were pretty fab though and very willing.
So I think in part where there's a will there's a way. They said other children benefitted from it too.
They also had a grant (which was organised through portage) which funded a 1:1 for the whole time he was there.
I think you need to chase this first. The nursery ds went to had monies pre-approved so this element of his start was easy to organise.
Will also get him known by the system. We started the statementing process while he was in this setting. But he has other issues too.
As mentioned above I'd be really concerned about the social impact of his speech and this would drive me to kick up a fuss.

I think there may be some confusion here about the terms speech and language. OP said a 'speech delay' implying that his language skills are fine, but that he has delayed speech production.
It is pretty rare to get a statement for speech difficulties on their own, but it can be done, in my experience only when parents are prepared to make a lot of fuss with the LEA to demonstrate that that's what he needs.
You say he isn't getting any therapy at the moment. That surprises me if he's severe enough that you think he might warrant a statement. I think I would really focus on getting therapy now as much as possible. You will also benefit from that evidence from the SLT if you apply for a statement.

It is really difficult to know what you are entitled too . Ds has now been referred to the Nuffield Centre for a proper assesment - no-one has put a label on it yet. While we are waiting for the referal to go through we have now been offered a block of 5 once a week sessions of group therapy with two other children which starts after half term. I have spoken further to his link therapist and she has suggested I look at a local mainstream sch (not the one my older dd goes to) which has therapists on site - apparently I don't need a statement for this school but there is a panel which meets to look at cases. She has given me the contact details of one of the therapists who works there. I met the therapist in question as she ran a makaton course I attended recently.

hi,i have never heard of that,does speek to i can talk helpline also the speech impediment may improve with the relevent intervention if your child has specific difficulties when they start school and is unable to access the curriculum effectiveley they may also have behaviour issues due to the frustration of having the speech difficulty in which this is also helpful if the statement process is relevant..under 5s now are receiving much more support due to early intervention so hang in there,always keep a diary of appointments and the therapist reports......good luck and dont worry...

kunfupanda,hi babes!.

crazy panda hello chicken pie...........lolxx

Has this turned into a panda convention

You might also add Speechtails.com at home to help encourage speech. I have been using it with two of my daycare children with similar issues and have found it most helpful. I also really like feeling like I am doing what I can to help! Good Luck, Vikki B, Indiana