SLT grrrrhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

[dontknowwhat2callmyself]

Have name changed for this as don't want to out myself - I used to post more often - I'm a bit more of a lurker these days.

Met with DD's SLT for the first time in over a year. The last and only set of targets I have copy of are dated Autumn 2011 with review date Spring 2012 so over a year old.

I asked the SLT how she has measured DD targets and she got a bit defensive, couldn't answer my question, and ended up saying "well I'm her speech and language therapist so I know whether or not she has met these targets" - "what about me I'm her mother so I would like to know" I said.

Basically, she had no information regarding DD's outcome of targets that she could feed back to me. She also went on to say that a lot of DD's targets were verbally agreed with her LSA. How the F**K do you measure verbal targets and also that some of her targets just rolled over to the next set of targets.

DD had no written targets set for Summer 2012 or Winter 2012.

I am so cross about this - surely SLT should be documenting outcome of DD's targets and providing written targets? I really want to complain to her superiors. I am so upset. I'm cross with myself that I didn't keep up regular contact with SLT but due to personal circumstances I let things slip and I have been concentrating more on the OT side of therapy.

I just can't see the point of SLT if there are no measurable outcomes. Oh and apparently DD's social skills are progressing as she can take ONE turn to throw a ball to another child in the playground before she wanders off - FFS she's been doing that since nursery and she's six now and I'm supposed to be over the F moon.

Rant over - Thanks

Utter cr*p from your SLT. Not good enough.

Dont rant..... Make a complaint! If people don't complain, nothing will change (not that it's your fault. It's hers.)

I've got the same problem dontknow. Absolutley fed up of the SLT not giving me any measurable objectives. I'm going to make a complaint if I don't get them soon. It's so frustrating.

'I just can't see the point of SLT if there are no measurable outcomes.'

You're dead right. I'm an s/lt and without this, it's pointless. The profession is under ever increasing pressure to provide evidence, outcomes and proof that we do what it says on the tin. Every s/lt knows this.

On the other hand, you need to know that your s/lt may well have over 100 children on her caseload and it is a hell of a job to keep up with all of that, particularly if, as you put it you didn't keep up regular contact with her.
What do you mean by that?
Did you miss appointments?

It is hard to put in a lot of effort with a child if the perception is that the family is not doing the same.
Just saying.

I told her that I thought as DD has a statement she should be a priority child with respect to her workload. I suggested to her that she may be busy as she has lots of other children on her case load and she did not take kindly to my assumption!

No, I have nor would I ever just not turn up for an appointment. We get a standard letter through the post at the beginning of every term saying "I will see you child once per half term - if you want to see me make an appointment" etc... - what really winds me up is that the letter is never signed (minor issue I know .

DD is well supported at school and they know I am doing extra work with her ie things like Numicom at Home. I have a good relationship with LSA who works closely with the SLT.

Feel a bit less angry today as SLT had a meeting with SENCO and LSA and they have put a strategy in place to try and help DD interact with the other children in the playground.

I will be more proactive with contact in future - lesson learnt

Most statemtns are little more than a paper exercise but it helps to know what it should and shouldn't contain and where.
S/lt should be under 'Educational Needs' (Part 2) and not under 'Non educational Needs' as it is most of the time.

You need to be up to date with what your child is legally entitlerd to, because believe me, noone will point it out to you.
Have a read

Thanks for the link Moondog - I will take a look

We are having very similar problems.

What is the standard measurement for SALT? Does it have a name? Is there more than one? Does it depend on the level of the individual? Are they measured in percentiles?

GRRR too with you.

Ds sees a SALT for his dysfluency ive met her twice one at inital referral and once shortly after to tell me she was involving OT too. Since then ive never met her again i get letters every 4 or 5 months telling with (about 2 lines of writing) that he is making progress and will be reviewed at X time. Tbf his dysfluency is much improved but an oppertunity to talk to her would be nice