S&L units questions to ask

[roundthebend4]

Lea have agreed at panel that ds Needs a s&l unit.

They are asking ne to name which one I would like .trouble is can't see any till after the 4th as schools are busy so going have to interogate ask. Questions by phone

Soany help with what should ask would be appreciated

size of classes
broad nature of kids s & l problems
number of salt hours directly with kids
use of AAC such as signing
training of staff
if any participation in m/s school activities/lessons
usual time spent in the unit (e.g. is it normally just a few years then work toward m/s integration or is it all through school)
how they work with dyspraxia/oro-motor problems
experience (if any) of physical disabilities
wheelchair access and (sorry, don't remember if any continence issues with your DS) changing facilities

oh and sort of work they do on social skills

Ty forgot about changi g issues ds is pretty good about being dry but still has problems with soiling

and yes the pd will come into play as well as fine motor as he can't hold pen properly

All that TC said, along with staff/pupil ratio,individual therapy vs groups, OT input if any,amount of contact with parents e.g. DDs school are very open & make it clear that parents may visit/phone/ sit in on an SLT session at anytime, keep a home -school communication book etc in additon to the set meetings - don't know if everywhere would be as accommodating

I am hoping that if panel agreed to ds needing speech units that the in county can't deny ds a place because of his other diffculties they already made it clear there be no money in the pot for funding any of ds extra needs

nearest unit turned us down as they wanted extra money on top of to fund extra care ds needs.but was out of county so easier for next Lea say no

Well first unit wAs a bust .turns out they had pretty much already decided that ds would not fit In there after seeing his paperwork even before they met him

they said ds language was to severe add In they did not do any signing not that I would want him where they had set their mind already

Am hoping that other units prepared to see ds for himself not prejudge him

shame that was such a waste of time, and that it was the first one you've seen. wouldn't have been any good though if they don't use any form of sign.

Well I now know where I want ds to go .You would think units would be the same but in the others where wAs made clear ds not wanted ,no interaction with ds and shuffling us out the door after 10 minutes

when we looked round to one today where ds was encoraged to join in a therpy session then class and snack time and the general good feeling to point the teacher and the salt in class gave me help on things I can do for ds in meantime and offered to post me stuf to .Was so good ds not want to leave

Now got to sit wait till after the 5 th see if can get ds a place there for September downside is that unit is keystage1 only but really feel ds gets place there will be best chance for him

good, so now you've got a plan, and somewhere you are happy with. out of interest, is the one you like the same as the one the visiting sl teacher suggested?

Yes funny enough it was so am Hoping not to much of a battle first time ever found myself agreeing with Anyone involved with the lea

The units teacher is former ican teacher so has brought lot what she leArnt with her
dc are in the unit ft mostly .dc even have lunch in unit so there not overwhelms by the noise and chaos of ms hall.though they mix them as and when approiate but from what they saw they feel ds would benefit staying ft. In unit and I would agree

oh can I be nosey and ask which one it is - ds1 is going through statement process for a place at s&l unit so want to know which one the nice one is ( we live in herts ). But we live next door near enough to one so I suppose he will go to that one if he gets a statement

Ask away it's the Giles infant and nursery school in Stevenage Its a unit rather than base so more intense therapy teaching

How far are you down statement line they have a prepanel meeting where they all look at dc and discuss what kind of provision is needed then another to award place Stage one was last week stage 2 is the 5th I'm kn east Herts but unit is North Herts

It's not my nearest one either but others admitted to me and lea that they felt could not meets ds needs and after looking at them if agree no way Would let ds go there.Fingers crossed since S&l teacher felt this was best and Lea seemed keen for me to see it ds should get place

downside it's good hr away but I feel be worth it

Sodit where abouts in Herts are you make sure you go see asmany as possiable all so differnent . I been lenth and breadth of herts interogating talking to schools

we are in cheshunt round the corner from flamstead end, ds1 has seen ed pysch and had a medical. all reports have to be in by tues so proposed statement due middle of june. ds1 has no other additional needs and it is just speech - forming the words really.

Ah I saw that one this week Its nearest to me.Can I ask have you been to look at it.For ds the unit was not right

how old is ds1

And just so your aware panel this week is starting fill places for September think were same Lea

ds1 is 3.8 so is due to start in jan, he has a place at the school anyway - our local school. Not had a look at it but ds1 is quite adaptable now but he is in a wonderful group at nursery in welwyn garden city now which is the nursery equivalent of a speech unit ( only 1 in county).
We have to wait and see if he will get statement to see if he will get a placeat a unit.

Have they mentioned about ds going as a possiablity just I know they tend to fill places now ready for September .so might be worth asking chances of spaces by January as know only 10 spaces years receptik to year2 not sure how many they will have .

go visit have look around me personally I did not like it see my above posts But that is just my personal opinon as ds needs are pretty severe when comes to S&l

everyone that has seen ds1 says he is ideal candidate for speech unit, will chase up about places though thanks for that. i will go and look round, now he has a place there anyway. only thing that worries me is that you said they dont use signing. ds1 is trying to talk now but most of the time he sounds like he has his fist in his mouth, so often have to ask him to sign what he means.

They use very little yes ds is same he is verbal but not so you would know so resorts to signing .ds has if in his statement that he requires signing to aid learning hence why Looked elsewhere and for once I agreed with Lea that other option better.Placement panel is 5th May fif Septembef starts but not sure if they keep space open for late starters

I found thr unit cold and they talked over ds but phone unit direct ask have look around and a chat what I did then especially if your ds uses signing go look at Stevenage call them up they were lovely on phone and on person

if you do go let me know be intestinv to compare notes

Sodit if wNt to email be would happily explain bit more about the units

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