Piffleoffagus, I have only just seen this (am a salt) or Iwould have answered earlier. Anyway, thread seemds to have died so I hope you are happy with Jimjam's answer (yes she is right!) but I will just add a bit!
Yes obviously kids 'perform' much better in their homes. We all accept that, but for reasons of time and economy, an SALT can get through a lot more appointments if the children come to him/her. We all know it is not ideal. (I do home visits but most of my service users have PMLD and are going to be seen for a long time so this makes sense.)
The Derbyshire RST is just that. RAPID and a SCREEN
In other words, it gives a vague idea very quickly. Again,far from ideal but this is the way it is.Salts tend to err on the side of caution. better to get a modest baseline and then be pleasantly surprised (which happens all the time-it's lovely!) than to decide on a rather ambitious one which will then be proved false. Very very demoralising for families who are already having a tough time.
Has the idea of ICWs (information carrying words) been explained to ytou properly? Jimjams is obviously familiar with it.
In a nutshell, even in long sentence, there are usually only certain words you need to truly understand to get the jist of the sentence. To use your medicine example, you could say
'Are you a bit poorly darling? Go and get the Calpol It's in the drawer.'
15 words there (16 actualy!)but to be honest, the child only needs to understand 'Calpol' especially if you usually keep it in the same place and she knows it.
Think of how abroad you can get by with understanding a few words-hear a sentence and just let them stand out and make sense of it.
Also context helps. If a waiter is standing there with a cold drink in his hand and saying something in a questioning tone, you could be anywhere from Ulaan Bator to Timbuktoo and have a pretty good idea what he is saying!!
I am NOT saying that this is necessarily the case with your child, but it is something we all do to a greater or lesser extent.
Also all salts bear it in mind if a child is not feeling her best. Iam sure it is in the file notes. Ask to see them!! (You have every right to do so!) If it isn't there ask for them to write it in if it makes you feel better.
Finally, she sounds as if she is coming on pretty well. Don't know how long you had to wait for an appointment, but it is pretty good that you have been seen so soon.
Oh! One more thing! For various boring statistical reasons, most assessments can't be redone within 6 months so I don't think it is worth asking for another one.
Things sound like they are going well. Please don't worry!!