Multi-Disciplinary Team
Colleagues from the National Health Service (NHS), social care, teaching support services and as required educational and clinical psychologists work with our staff as necessary in the support of our students. The NHS Team at Springwater School include Paediatricians, Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Dietitians and Orthotists.
The staff are not directly employed by school and not based on site though visit as required. They are viewed as an integral part of our team. The school team is further enhanced by staff from early years support, careers guidance, transition support service and adult services all of whom are part of the pupils’ life at key times throughout their school career. The relevant professional(s) attend the annual reviews or provide reports as required.
Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) at Springwater School
SaLT’s provide assessment, identification, advice and intervention for children and adults who have difficulties with communication and with eating, drinking and swallowing (dysphagia).
In special schools, SaLT’s work specifically with students who have a wide range of difficulties and diagnoses. For example this may include students with autism, cerebral palsy, downs syndrome, developmental delay, injury or a degenerative disorder. Their communication difficulties may include speech delays/disorders, language delays/disorders, dysfluency (stammering) and difficulties with social communication.
SaLTs collaboratively set holistic targets for students and make contributions to their Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP). They also provide lots of advice and strategies for teaching staff to enhance the student’s communication and feeding environment.
A lot of the SaLT work in special schools is indirect, which means that support is provided to a student’s main communication partners; the people they see and interact with the most. This includes teaching staff, parents and carers.
Some students may need direct input and alternative or augmentative (AAC) forms of communication. This could include pictures, symbols, signing support (Makaton), switches and high tech communication aids to supplement their interaction and communication. Springwater School is committed to a Total Communication approach.
Please see below the link to the Core Offer of the Speech and Language Therapy Role within special schools