My daughters SALT and Nursery disagree on what my dd is capable of.

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my 4 year old daughter has been having speech therapy for 18 months. She has recently been diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia and the therapist thinks she might have a problem with auditory processing.
The SALT has spoken to the consultant saying that she suspects physical co-ordination difficulties as she can't climb on or jump of a chair with out help.
I mentioned this to nursery when we had parents evening and the next day, the teacher said she can climb on and jump off a chair on her own!
She seems to be able to do so much more at nursery than she'll do for the SALT. The SALT has said that she finds it hard to concentrate but nursery say how good her attention span is. Her teacher is quite strict and dosn't stand any nonsence but my daughter absoluitly loves her and has a lot of respect for her. She gets the best out of her. Anyway, our SALT won't come and see her at nursery or even phone her teacher to give advice etc. She says it's outside her catchment, and basically refuses to have any contact with the school. She is very laid back and to be honest I don't feel confident in her at all, although she seems very nice. The head of nursery has said that she'll go and see the SALT if she won't come to the school. I just think that we really need to change speech therapists if she won't work with the school. I've concidered private therapy but that will be very expenceive. My daughter is due to see the consultant in april and I'd really like to find out what's going on but if the SALT is saying one thing and the nursery another, how will we be able to come to any conclusions?
What do you think we should do?
The nursery teacher keeps saying we really need to push for her to get her the help she needs but I'm just not sure how to go about it.

I feel that the nursery are doing far more to help her speech than the speech therapist but they do need some guidence.
The head of nursery is willing to speek to the consultant or any one else.

Anyone ?

I'm going to bed now but I'll check tomorrow to see if anyone has replied.

what do you think? do you agree with SALT or nursery? I wouldn't worry too much about what consultant thinks, he/she should be able to form his own opinion based both on what you tell him and what he sees. no experience of private schools so can't really help on that score.

I know that she does more at nursery than she'll do for me or the speech therapist. Nursery gets the best out of her so I suppose they know better than I do what she's capable of. She tends to play up for me and the SALT.

I don't think SALTs are legaly obliged to go in to private schools, I could be wrong.
I'm concidering hireing a private SALT for her. I really need someone that will have contact with the nursery.

I had a SALT who was absolute rubbish - if it's your instinct that this woman is downplaying or underestimating what DD can do, get rid! I think some of them have been at the SALT game too long, and are just going thorugh the motions. The nursery sound far more like they expect your DD to do well, and so she will do well. Those who expect sod-all progress just because our kids have SEN drive me insane!!!!!!

Yes, I do really need another SALT. I wonder if I can get a different NHS SALT who will visit the school.

We saw a private SALT when my daughter was two and a half. She said that she definatly has a speech disorder and possible learning difficulties as she was confused with male and female and kept saying the same prase over and over which was "my pink telie tubbie".
She still gets confused with male and female, eg him-her, sister-brother etc. I don't think it's learning difficulties though as she has such a good memory. I don't know weather to have her again.

Hi My DD (now 4 1/2 y) was having SALT according to their tests she her speech was delayed by 8 months (she was intially referred as she was saying nothing very much at 18 months) Nursery staff suggested in the end that I wrote to the SALT and asked for DD to be discharged as they really did not think there was a problem.
DD is at ft nursery and SALT had been doing group work with her at nursery, and we had taken her along for assessments/one on one sessions about half a dozen times. Different situation to yours but there seems to be a good link between our nursery and NHS SALT service - so I am unsure why your SALT is any different. But like your DD- nursery staff have always been able to get far more out of my dd, than either myself our SALT could. good luck

My daughters nursery teacher wants to go and see the SALT. She said she'll drive her to the nursery if she's worried about the petrol money. My daughters teacher really wants her to see what she's like at school and what she's capable of.

She probably does more for nursery because its familiar. My son scores 0 on everything in an official testing room- but actually is quite communicative when relaxed and not have teddies shoved in his face. The nursery probably represents her at her best and the SALT at her worst.

VIDEO is your answer. Let the SALT do her stuff but also show her video of your dd in familiar surroundings with familiar people so she gets an idea of how able she can be - it can help her draw up a suitable curriculum as well.

"if the SALT is saying one thing and the nursery another, how will we be able to come to any conclusions? "

It's not necessarily a terrible thing if SALT and nursery are reporting different behaviours. Most of the notes from my paediatrician's report are about the differences between DS2 at home, at nursery and at the paed's appointment. Can you get nursery to do a written report, perhaps even get the video thing done there on site? If SALT won't cooperate, you can still show the nursery video to paed. directly.

I'm sorry you are still struggling with that SALT - I know it's been an uphill battle for you.

Hi Mummyloveslucy,
I am an SLT myself (I am newly qualified, but have been working for 6months).

My personal opinion is that your child's SLT is being unreasonable. I'm sure her opinions are totally justified, and someimes it is tough, as children can be very different in an unnatural 1;1 setting than they are in their daily pre-school setting. But I DO think she should liaise with the pre-school. A phonecall can not be out of her remit.

During our training there was a NASSIVE emphasis on inter-professional working, and your SALT speaking with pre-school is in you child's best interest. Apart from anything else it will enable her to get a more realistic picture of your LO so she can tailor her programme towards her needs and likes etc.

I don't really have any constructive advice, im afraid, but your SALT is most definately being unreasonable. I suppose you could try reasoning with her...asking WHY she will not liaise with staff. Discuss the need for inter-disciplinary working and perhaps tell her that the pre-school would appreciate her advice & expertise??

Failing that you could always ask to dicuss the situation with her manager. You are well within your rights to do that!

Good Luck...Let us know what happens,

Axx

ameNbump- sorry to reply so late, I haven't been on MN for a few days as I've been quite ill.
That's interesting that there is massive emphasis on inter-profecional working.
I've really tried my best to get the SLT to visit the nursery, she phoned them once after a lot of pestering and she didn't see eye to eye with the head of nursery. She now won't even phone them. She just says take her homework sheets in and show them. Which I do, but it's not enough.
The head of nursery will be phoning her today, so that'll be interesting. I think I might have to wright to her manager if she still refuses to go. I'll ask for another therapist that's in the catchment of the school. It's a bit tricky as it's private, I don't know if NHS SLTs will visit them.

Hi, great news! my daughters teacher has phoned the SLT and she is going to go to the nursery next tuesday. I can't believe it!
She will see then how my daughter is a nursery and what she's realy capable of.

Thats fantastic news! About time too, i say! Let's hope that she is able to develop a more holistic view of your DD now, and will be better able to meet her needs!!

Thanks everyone. I'm really pleased that she's finally going to go in and see her at nursery. The head of nursery is a star!

Do let us know how it goes!! Just out of interest is she an "older" lady, your SALT??

No, she is quite young and newly qualified would you believe.

ah she's probably scared of putting a foot wrong so flipped out a bit at the mention of private school/nursery iyswim. a newly qualified salt at DS's speech group last summer looked a bit terrified that she had said too much when she referred to there being a shortage of SALTs in my city - I told her not to worry, given the waiting times for appointments it was hardly a secret that SALTs don't grow on trees round here!

Yes, I'm sure you're right. She has redeamed herself in my eyes now anyway.

But she still trained bloomin hard for four years and should know better!!! Ah well...I guess all's well that ends well!!