Speech and language units in Oxfordshire?

[farming4]

Hi, finally got a confirmed dx for ds today of verbal dyspraxia and SALT has suggested we look into S and L units instead of ms primary - trouble is she didn't know any in Oxon (our SALT in over the border in Glos). Has anyone any info on any units and who they cater for - thanks

I don't know if these links help any..
[[Queensway County Primary School, Banbury, OX16 9NF
Tel: 01295 275927

Caldecott Primary School, Abingdon, OX14 5HB
Tel 01235 521720
]]

My DS2 is at a generic special needs school in west oxfordshire.. he was non verbal at 4 when he started and now at 13 is very verbal indeed (though still with difficulties.. strangers find him hard to understand) so it might be worth checking those out too, depending on whether he has any other difficulties..
x

Hi to both of you, another s and l mum in Oxon here! My DD is 4.5 and has SLI although currently being tested for other stuff and has some medical issues so not sure where we will end up but have been told a s and l unit would be appropriate for her. The trouble is they have stopped taking younger children here for some stupid reason (money I suspect!). Caldecott told me they don't have any under 7s and will be none under 9 in the future. BUT I have spoken to various people who have said that if that is what a child needs to get a statement and then push for it as it is just not true that there isn't a need for younger children.

I don't know about the Banbury unit is that close enough for you? Otherwise if all else fails there is a unit in Newbury, we visited it as could get DD there in 20mins or so and although it would be a fight, I thought of asking for it when we got our statement. Have you got a statement?

DD has verbal dyspraxia too, well speech sound production difficulties we have no proper diagnosis of it but she is impossible to understand. She has auditory processing disorder too I think.

The oxfordshire branch of AFAISIC is great and very helpful with info like that, may be worth getting in touch.

Medusa your comment about your DS made me smile, my DD is very verbal indeed she never stops! Just impossible to understand even for me unless its familiar phrases. Have you found the SN school to be good with things like s and l therapy?

Farming my Dd has the Oxfordshire (or this part of oxfordshire anyway)alternative to a unit which is thier "intensive support package". A specialist language impairment therapist comes around once a half term to advise the setting on how they should incorperate s and l therapy to the playgroup and then her assistant comes once a week and her keyworker does activities with her, uses makaton and pictures etc. She will have a support worker when she starts school in september and they will do the same combination of target work and supporting her play to make sure she is coping socially. No idea if it will work and strongly feel she needsa a unit in the future but am happy with the school so will give it a go.

Used2bthin... generally I have been happy with the provision.. especially when DS2 was younger. He's a bit of a mixed profile.. he was originally dx with speech delays, learning difficulties and physical difficulties (weak muscle tone) which all affected his speech ..he also has a floppy palate -velonasal insufficiency- so there was lots to work on!

The S+L provision has been adequate. He had a S+L programme and the SALT would work with him once a week and the activities were carried out in school with the teacher/TAs. As he has got older the focus changed from speech production to understanding etc and to be honest when he got to about 9 the SALT pretty much said he wouldn't improve in his actual speech production, and our focus switched to his social understanding of language (he also has a ASD dx)

Recently the SALT signed him off! Fine in as far as there is nothing else she can do, BUT I still have a nearly 14 yr old son who can't be understood very well by anyone who doesn't know him. He has a LOT to say these days but his speech is slurred and if you aren't 'tuned in' it's hard to understand at times..he still dribbles sometimes too:( I accept that SALTs can't 'fix' everything but I hope she hasn't put him down in a 'job done' tick box!!

I do think being in a SN school is good in that you have easier access to the professionals.. our SALT is in school two whole days a week, the OTs also..so if you need one you can find them! (I also work there which helps...

I THINK there are other speech units in Oxon.. trying to wrack my brains....

Hi again, once a week is what DD will get but then the same in that the TA and teacher will work on what the SALT sets. Thats worrying he has been discharged, does he communicate with pictures or signing? DD is ok ish with signing but then I worry as not everyone signs. Hope there is more provision for your DS as he gets older.

I took DD to ICAN in novemeber they said she needs a s and l unit but newbury was our nearest! When I rang the s and l servicxes I was told the outreach service will be replacing that provision. Actually don't get me started it makes me cross!

Handed over my parental contribution today so statement process underway, phew!

Hi thanks for the replies - we are in West Oxon right on the Glos border so Banbury is do-able. Might have to give the school a shout to go and have a look.

Medusa - Which school is your ds at? I am really looking forward to the day when my ds is very verbal - there are days I wonder if it will ever happen.

Used2 - which part of Oxon are you in and how do I access the "intensive support package". We have an Early Years Inclusion Officer involved through pre-school at the moment but to be perfectly frank she seems to promise the earth but doesn't deliver

Ds is due to start school in Sept and the same ms school as his older brother and sister and I don't know what to do.......do I wait and see how he gets on in reception in surroundings he is familier with or do I start pushing for a statement and try for a S and L unit

Oh poor you ours is ok but doesn't promise much! We are south oxon so newbury is our nearest as far as I know. Our inclusion officer rang and sorted the s and l therapy out. I am grateful to her for that but still think a lang unit would have been more appropriate.

We have an ed psych too who is ensuring they plan to her needs etc, do you have one? Come to think of it our inclusion teacher sorted that too after a developmental assessment so she can't be doing too badly!

The what to do question is tough isn't it and my dilemma is similar, they are already taking dd for visits to the primary school her playgrouo is attached to and she is due to go in sept too, the next term is a short one and I feel we are too pushed for time now to sort it and get her settled in for sept so you may need to think about that in taht teh statementing process takes a while in itself.

Have the school said much about how they will prepare to meet his needs?

Our inclusion officer decided that ds wasn't "bad" enough to get the ed psych involved . Not sure how she is qualified to make that decision but I think I shall wait to see what happens in May in his transition meeting. As far as I know the meeting will include the SENCO from pre-school, SALT, reception teacher, inclusion officer, SENCO from school, Head Teacher and me. If I can get his paed there too all the better. I'm assuming the details on how they will meet his needs will be sorted out then...........think its gonna be an "interesting" meeting lol. Think I'm gonna see how he gets on in reception and if hes struggling then it will only add weight to the evidence for statementing. Hopefully he won't suffer too much in the mean time. One good thing is that a lot of his pre-school group are also starting and they all know ds and can sign and understand him -pre-school are excellent and signing is incorporated into the daily sessions

We had our transition meeting this month and I was pleasantly surprised. Similar people there but with the ed psych too, she was great at describing DD and also a few times queried things such as saying they need to make sure DD isn't doing targetted work all the time but they will need to still be watching to ensure she doesn't lose confidence as she will find it hard to communicate with the others.

Thats great that signing is incorperated, it is at ours too although won't be at the school and I suspect it isn't used as much as it could be like a lot of places.

There are pros and cons aren't there, I think there is a lot to be said for familiarity. For my dd I think long term she won't be in mainstream but her understanding is impaired as well as speech, and like you I think given the tinme limts I will see how she goes for a bit, especially as she is having support.

I think its quite important that a school is realistic so was pleasantly surprised at how on the ball the SENCO seemed to be. Still terrified at the thought of her at mainstream as she is literally years behind the others but the meeting really helped.

We have an assessment next week with the SALT to produce the report to identify exactly his needs and challenges - shes is also talking about referring him to the Nuffield to go on their verbal dyspraxia programme so fingers crossed. I do think ds will end up in a language unit eventually - would really love to win the lottery and send him to one of the I Can schools at a later date....

Do you mind me asking what other challenges does your dd face? Ds also has epilepsy and sleep problems, both of which he is medicated for. But he copes with life and charms everyone he comes across!

Ah me too! Mwe and DP frequently joke on a saturday that we may move to Surrey which is where the assessment she had was!

Is the Nuffield programme at the Nuffield in Oxford? My MUM IS AN ot AND she mentioned this-sorry for random caps!

Our SALT wants to work on building dd's memory and language skills before speech production but I am arguing that if people could understand her it would be more of an incentive!

DD has a genetic condition that affects her medically, so she is dependant on steroids and has a lot of hopsital as illness affects her badly. She is like your DS, very smiley and sociable!

Due to have an EEG next month actually as she has had a few funny turns which may be epilepsy or related to her other condition. And ECG monday bless her!

Oh good luck for Monday x. Has your dd had an eeg before? Ds's epilepsy is of the form of myoclionic jerks which were basically blink and you missed it. He has had one full grand mal which landed us in the Horton last september which prompted putting him on medication (currently Epilim) Since going on the meds he is a totally different child - happier, more connected, less inclined to drift off day dreaming - sorta more comfortable in his own skin iyswim.

Unfortunately the Nuffield concerned is down in London but at least it means ds will get a ride in a train which he will be very excited about . Are the 2 Nuffields connected? Would certaintly make life easier if they are. Only problem with going on the programme is that you only get one shot at it so I don't really want ds to go too early if he would benefit more when hes older.

Decisions, decisions.........

Ah I have heard of them too I looked into it before doing the ican thing. I don't know if they are connected I must remember to ask the s and l t about it. Tricky with the one shot thing and I don't know about your DS but my DD has v little attention span so it depends on that a bit I expect.

Grand mal must have been scary. DD had one collapse but it was v unlike a seizure or what I thought they'd look like. Can't wait to find otu. No she's not had an eeg before its a sleep deprivation one but am thinking we'll accept the melatonin too!

Ds has had 2 eegs - one waking and one sleep deprived. He has melatonin (my sanity saver!) to sort out his sleep issues anyway and they just gave him a bigger dose for the sleep deprived one.

tbh the thought of a grand mal was worse than the reality - we had been warned it would happen and I was watching him like a hawk - when it actually kicked off I was really surprised how calm and sensible I was - went to pieces once the paramedics arrived though

bump
just over the border in bucks with DD1 with verbal dyspraxia...
need to read more fully when not being harangued!

Hi negligent mummy I work near Bucks! Does your Dd attend a unit? Farming I meant to say thanks for the good luck message, I muddled that because the ecg was monday just gone! It was a nightmare she's just had bloods done and was cross and kicked the ecg technician.

You sound like me with DD's injection, I was almost relieved when I had finally had to give it to her for the first time as had been worrying so much that I wouldnt be able to do it. When you say they said he would have a grand mal was that because they had already diagnosed him with epilepsy?

Hi negligentmummy - know that feeling - my lot seem to kick off just when I'm trying to get something done

Used2 - he had been diagnosed at that point with episodes typical of epilepsy but not a firm dx Still not sure what type it is but fingers crossed haven't had anything since Oct since starting meds. Only trouble is hes getting bigger so just waiting for a "breakthrough" at some point.

Lol re the eeg - have you had any results yet?

EEG is next month, have had to rearrange my holiday over it. I am preparing myself as much as possible for an epilepsy diagnosis and will prob be surprised now if she oesn't have it. Will have the results two qweeks later they said. On mon it was an ECG she had, as she has high blood pressure, this one is related to her genetic condition. Have been quite anxious about it so rang her consultant to see if they'd looked at it yet but she hasn't called back yet so am guessing not.

Does breakthrough happen when they out grow thier dose? Really not looking forward to extra meds to dish out she already has lots, how many times a day do you give them?

Sorry - didn't read your post properly - got eeg and ecg confused. Ok start again - good luck with the eeg and I hope you get the results of the ecg quickly - there's nothing worse than waiting is there? We had some bloods done in Sept for genetic screening and we're still waiting for some of the results.

Yes breakthrough is when they out grow their dose. The level of sodium valporate that ds is supposed to be on is 20 mg per kg bodyweight but when we last saw the consultant in Feb he was on about 17 per kg bodyweight but consultant says she is reluctant to put the dose up until he fits again.

Re the meds we get off quite lightly - 3.5ml Sodium Valporate (Epilim) morning and night and 2ml Melatonin 1/2 hr before bed. Bless him he's really good at taking them thank goodness. Sounds like your dd has quite a lot of meds to take bless her - is she ok with that?

September is a long time ago poor you! You should come and join the support thread for those waiting for genetic/chromosome tests results,I have been on there nearly every day the last couple of weeks! It is awful waiting. We are going through statementing so its kept me busy but its quite hard to concentrate on normal life with the worry going on, it makes such a difference to the future.

DD used to take a lot more but one medication was stopped when she was around two. So now it's four doses a day but also constipation meds on top of that so more would feel a lot but I guess I'd just give it with her first and last doses. Of course she may well not need it but better to prepare myself that she will I feel. I am also aware she may end up on high blood pressure meds too. Luckily she is like your DS and very good about taking it and will do it herself now if I give her it mixed up in a syringe!

Hopefully we will see the consultant at the end of May so fingers crossed we get some more results then. I did post on the genetic thread at the start but haven't really been back cos I had nothing to report!

Had a really good assessment with the SaLT today - ds has made some real progress since his last assessment in October. Its funny but you don't notice it when its on a daily basis but seeing it on paper I realise how far he has come........still a long way to go though...

Yes its true it is hard to see the progress ourselves sometimes isn't it. Glad it went well. I think our chromosomes tests will take months and months so will be the same, in fact am not even sure if they will use them unless the MRI shows nothing.

My DD has been playing me up badly today, she is beginning to get frustrated I think and understandably at four and a half, she's been amazingly laid back till now. But still hard going, feel like I have fought battles all day!

H,i I just read your post and although I am not in Oxon I just wanted to tell you about my son, as it may help. He had speech and language disorders (expressive and receptive) diagnosed by an excellent nursery teacher when he was 3 and a half. He had SL therapy all through his primary years which helped him to work round his problem, but nothing seemed to get to the route of it. In year 5 I was told about a place in Lewes called the Listening Centre - they have a website, just google them - and, at my wits end decided to give it a go. It has turned out to be the best thing I ever did. I was extremely skeptical about it, the therapy is based on the Tomasis method which originated in France (and was used by Gerard Depardieu among others) and involves a specially modified listening device which retrains the ear to hear particular frequencies - its all to do with whether you are left or right ear dominant (left bad, right good).

I know what you're thinking! mumbo jumbo quacksville - I thought the same, before and even during his treatment. Frankly its a pain in the neck to go through as it involves listening to this device 6 days a week for two weeks, then a few weeks break, then 7 days, then a few weeks break and then a final 7 days. However it has been SO worth it. My son said to me on the train to Lewes for his final treatment that he could actually hear his teachers properly for the first time. I couldn't believe it, I also noticed him actually joining in conversations with his older brother and his friends with confidence for the first time in his life. He is now a confident, happy, socially active 15 year old who is in most of the top sets at his mainstream comprehensive, loves English and we have been told he is a great candidate for A level. This was entirely unthinkable at primary school. I realise all this sounds too good to be true, but I just want as many people as possible to look into this method. It does cost money - the initial consutation is £60 and our whole treatment cost almost £2,000 but it was the best money we ever spent, we also spent a small fortune on SL therapists over the years, some of whom were great. The method can apparently help for all sorts of problems from dyslexia and depression to autism and cerebral palsy. I think there is also a Listening Centre in north London now using the same method, which used to just be aimed at actors and musicians but is now teating children and adults with these disorders.

I've just read this back, andI know this sounds like an ad for the place, but I can't tell you how this has changed my son's life (and mine) after all those years of struggling with EPs the statementing nightmare and hours of tantrums and behaviour issues. So many times I cried on my own and felt like a failure and was so sad about the unfairness and uncertainty of his future. I still worry about him, it's hard to shake the habit, but I've just had his parents' evening and it was so normal it made me want to cry... for good reasons! Please just look at the website and give them a call and if it works for you tell your friends. It should be made available to everyone.

Good luck.