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Communication is not just about talking. It isn't easy to see and recognise what happens beneath the surface of children's communication. Being able to listen, pay attention, play and understand are the fundamental building blocks of communication. Adults play a crucial role in supporting these skills. If a child can't listen and understand, they'll struggle to talk.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and Language Therapy
Watch the video opposite to find out how we can work with our colleagues in Speech and Language to support children in our settings.
Sign Along
Sign Along
Signalong is a sign supported communication system, designed to help children and adults with communication difficulties. It is designed to support spoken language to help people with communication difficulties understand and express themselves.
Unlike British Sign Language training, or that provided by some other organisations, Signalong training focuses on developing communication skills rather than teaching blocks of signs, many of which will be quickly forgotten through lack of use. The precise Signalong method of presentation enables users to remind themselves of signs which have been forgotten and to learn new signs from the manuals. Training programmes therefore focus on the application of sign-supported communication, e.g. aspects of total communication, such as facial expression, body language and voice tone; plus simplification of language and keyword selection.
Annual Signalong Accredited Foundation courses are offered through the East Lothian Education CPD directory as a 7 week twilight course.
The ASN team in East Lothian also offer Signalong training sessions on request to schools and nurseries. This could be for individual children and staff associated with them. There are also Introductory and Foundation courses available for parents and nurseries, which schools can request if they have a minimum of 8 people to train. Training sessions are tailored to need, e.g. 1 or 1.5 hour refresher sessions, 2 hour training or 15 hour accredited Signalong course
Find out more by clicking on the Signalong graphic above left.
The Visual Support Project was piloted within 6 mainstream nurseries in East Lothian, with one from each cluster. This pilot was funded by the East Lothian education department and was undertaken by an SLT and an educational psychologist and is now evaluated and training is available. It is an accredited process delivered to raise awareness, change practice and improve access to visual symbol supports, e.g. whole class visual timetables and environmental visual labelling. Settings who have been successful in this process have been awarded the Bronze level for the Visual Support Project. The VSP has been extended to encompass a whole school approach and there have been pilot sites where the school have worked towards achieving the silver award.
The Visual Support Project aims to:
Enhance staff confidence, knowledge and practice in the use of visual symbol supports.
Ensure equal and consistent access to high quality visual symbol supports for all children to meet their communication and educational needs.
Once an establishment has enrolled to participate, settings attend an hour long whole school professional learning session on visual symbol supports. There is a small cost involved to cover the visuals provided to a school or nursery. Ongoing support and advice is offered by the team. The aim is that each nursery in the project will achieve a Bronze level award.
Apply via the Support and Language Therapy Helpline detailed below or speak to your link SLT
Speech and Language Therapy Helpline Service
Speech and Language Therapy Helpline Service
East Lothian Speech and Language Therapy provides settings and families with the opportunity to call a triage helpline where queries or concerns regarding a child’s speech, language and communication can be discussed. Settings and practitioners will not identify the children they are discussing but will share their speech and language concerns to find ways to support the child. You may want to discuss a request for assistance about a specific child if you have parental consent or discuss training needs for your setting. It is helpful to share the helpline information with families
You don’t need to go to your GP, Health Visitor or school to access this service.
East Lothian SLT Helpline
Tuesday 1.30-4.00pm
0131 446 4136
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