Best part of MN for this topic / support?

[SoozyWoozy]

DD3 (4yo) has delayed expressive and receptive language. I haven't been well supported by NHS Team / SALT. I don't know anyone else with a child who has the same SEN as DD (even I'm not sure what her 'needs' are exactly).

Where is best to post on MN for S&L?

Many thanks

carry on posting over here. there will be plenty of posters who have experience of S & L delay, either on its own, or as part of another condition, such as dyspraxia or ASD or Downs Syndrome. I think you will find many of us have found what is available on NHS rather limited for kids with S & L delay.

Are you OK re:starting Reception, with schools etc, or are there issues with 1-1, statementing etc?

Here's as good a place as any. Some of us have kids with speech delays as part of something else (DS2 has ASD and is pretty much non-verbal, though he's just been trying to shove my arm under the sofa saying "get it") Some people here also have kids with speech delays alone.

DD currently attends Nursery attached to the school where she starts Reception this September. She has Individual Education Plan set by Nursery, which will continue into reception. They will then reassess her after October half term, giving her time to settle in and for staff to get to know her a bit better.

There was talk of Autism, but then she never 'performed' in clinic so was very difficult to assess. Nursery are not worried about social skills, physical development. We were told she would be assessed for statement, went back to the next appointment and they completely back-tracked and said she was nowhere near the level required for statement.

DD had a small fracture to her leg just before her 2nd birthday - someone (can't remember who) said her problems may stem from this... the fracture was badly mis-managed by the NHS and instead of it healing within 4 weeks, she was in cast and in pain for 10 weeks. It was suggested that she became over-reliant on me at the time, and development in all areas slowed because she was so focussed on mending. No idea if that's true or not.

Other than the above I have no other 'label' (I hate that word, need a better one!) than delayed S&L. I do as much as I can to help her at home, Nursery are fantastic as I'm sure school will be... and yet I feel I am missing something. I just don't know what.

Sorry that turned into an essay

Hi Soozy, welcome to this part of MN. We're very passionate about helping our kids and have heaps of experience between us, and years of repeating ourselves (because we want to help) can mean we sometimes can come across as a bit blunt and to the point. Don't be put off though, delve right in and start getting some ideas about next steps/what is going on etc.

To the point is good :) Say it as it is!

Half the trouble is I don't really know what to say. I know being DDs mummy is hard work, demanding, tests the patience not daily but hourly but is also the most privileged role I hold.

And I will fight tooth and nail to get her all the support and care she needs :)

Okay. First blunt response. The cast thing/over-reliance thing is bollocks. Any fool can see that and most of us have had to defend a 'reason' for our dcs having difficulty as being somehow down to us. That is highly highly unlikely for the majority, but 10 weeks in a cast is just one of the daftest explanation of an additional need.

I did see it as an addition to the mummy-guilt... someone to blame maybe? She was reliant on me for pain relief and love, but they all are when they're unwell, tired etc. Not to mention I put LOADS of effort into finding things she could do while sitting comfortably. I'm pretty sure I stimulated her mind. I'll always feel guilty about the fracture.

But like that someone thinks the theory is bollocks! My mum was looking at a photo of DD before the fracture and said she looked different "more going on behind the eyes". Yeah, thanks for that...

agree that the cast theory is bollocks - why on earth would a leg injury affect her understanding of language?

In general I'ld say be very wary of the NHS/education system letting things drag on. Keep on top of promises, to make sure that the review actually happens, and that after half-term doesn't turn into after Xmas. Also think about whether you might want to get her reassessed for Autism if you don't think the first assessment was reliable/thorough enough.

If you do advanced search for posts containing "moondog calendar" and "lingle clock" you will find some v useful stuff about teaching the concept of time to kids with language delay.

hi soozy, which professionals have actually ever seen your DD? are you under a SALT? ever been seen by a developmental paed? if not I would get a referral ASAP.

who told you that her needs would not be enough for a statement? it is neither for the nursery nor the paediatrician to decide. have you ever applied for a statement? there is a model letter at Ipsea's website ( it is the first model letter )

and yes, agree - a broken leg is a bit of a daft explanation for your DD's problems. but IME, the so-called professionals are really good in finding something to blame for your DC's problems rather than getting to the root of it and offering real support.

Inital delay was noticed at 2 year check, then referred to SALT. We have been seen at Child Development Centre by Paed Consultant, in a tiny room with SALT (different one to who actually assessed her), Occ Health, Physio.

I don't think any of the time in clinic provided a good picture of her ability. She didn't 'perform' (their word, not mine). When she was seen at home by Occ Health, they said they had no concerns about physical development, just the speech that backed up what she was capable of doing in other ways.

It was the team at CDC who said she wouldn't meet the criteria for statement, but I didn't know we could make that application. I was kind of hoping she would get a statement so she had one-to-one support in school. Thank you for the link.

As I pointed out to them at the time, if I had been listened to by the Ortho team who were supposed to be caring for DD, then the fracture would have been no consideration at all...

I have been really impressed with school. We have been regularly updated, their record keeping is exemplary - her records in school are huge already... from photos of activities and achievements, post-it notes with written evidence of what she has done, and all with her IEP which is being continually assessed and changed as necessary.

The community SALT has been poor. We've had approx 4 blocks of 6 week sessions in almost 3 years. The last block of 6 was cancelled on more than once occasion, it isn't consistent and was on a Friday at 1:30pm... great time for learning

The consultant appointments were intimidating and tbh honest pointless because they didn't see what she was truly like. I'm hoping that Reception will be as much of a turning point as Nursery has been.