🧩 A Tiered Model of Support

SaLT at Laleham Gap follows a tiered approach in line with the Balanced System to ensure the right support is delivered at the right time:

1. Universal Support

• Staff training and workshops

• Advice on classroom strategies

• Resources for everyday communication support

2. Targeted Support

• Small group interventions

• Advice on specific areas like vocabulary, narrative skills, or active listening

• Support for pupils with identified Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)

3. Specialist Support

• Individual therapy sessions based on personalised goals

• Input for pupils with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), stammering, selective mutism, or speech sound disorders

• Contributions to Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) where appropriate

🧠 Common Areas of Support

SaLTs offer a wide range of support may work with pupils who:

• Struggle to understand or follow instructions

• Have difficulty expressing thoughts or emotions

• Use immature or limited vocabulary

• Experience challenges with forming sentences or grammar

• Find it hard to make and maintain friendships

• Show signs of anxiety or low self-esteem linked to communication difficulties

Some SaLTs have additional specialist training and can support issues with eating and swallowing as well. If your child is struggling with this, please talk to your GP, make a referral through The Pod or seek support from school staff.

📋 Referrals & Resources

Referrals to the SaLT service can be made by the school or by parents/carers. The service uses a structured referral process to ensure pupils meet the criteria for support. Initial assessments may take place in school or at a local clinic, depending on the child’s age and needs.

Helpful Links:

• Speech and Language Therapy Overview

• School-Aged Language Support

• Children’s Therapies Service