Tools to combat a crisis: What can schools do next for better SaLT support
News & Views . 23 October 2024
At the start of October, TES Magazine published a timely and significant article by Zofia Niemtus, Speech and language is in crisis – what can schools do next?
In it, Niemtus highlights a situation that will have struck a chord with schools, settings, and speech and language therapists (SaLTs) across the country: “The signs of a speech and language crisis in schools are clear – and have been for some time.”
Our team at Verbo, with extensive experience as NHS SaLTs in London schools, are well acquainted with the issues Niemtus raises, and we’re dedicated to addressing this crisis in education. With 1.9 million children in the UK experiencing speech, language, and communication difficulties, the demand for accessible speech and language provision, from early years through to young adulthood, has never been greater.
Our focus is to provide educators with instant access to tools enabling them to support the communication skills development of all children and young people at a universal level, as well as targeted resources for those with identified needs. Our aim is to build capacity for Speech and Language Therapists so more time is available for the specialist support only they can provide.
As a team, we share many of the views expressed in Niemtus’s article, recognising the value of intervention in the Early Years, but also the need for ongoing support through primary school, as advocated by Professor Charles Hulme, and into secondary education, as highlighted by Professor Courtenay Norbury.
After all, teachers need support throughout a child’s school life, not just at the start. Niemtus also emphasises key transition points where support can be disrupted – such as when children move schools.
But what about the transition to adulthood at post-16? Many of the educators we work with agree that support at this stage is just as critical. Early intervention doesn’t only apply to the early years. Schools and settings need tools that help staff identify and support learners throughout their education journey. Whatever age issues arise for a child or young person, it’s crucial that teachers, already stretched for time, have what they need to respond quickly and effectively.
Adequate teacher training is a key part of the puzzle, and it was great to see this acknowledged and emphasised in Niemtus’s piece. At Verbo, we believe there is a need for training that is accessible and fits within the realities of a busy school day. The feedback we receive from education staff indicates that bite-sized, on-demand training that can be easily and regularly accessed can make a significant impact.
We know that SaLT time in schools is limited, and highly variable across the country, so effective solutions are needed to ensure this time can be used as efficiently as possible. We want to make our reach as SaLTs go further, and we do so by directing staff towards video-modelling of specific interventions and providing resources that can be quickly and easily shared across teaching teams.
We can’t underplay the sheer level of the crisis facing schools, but effective SaLT support is available now, and this crisis can begin to be combatted with tools that empower learners and teachers alike.
Explore what Verbo can offer, and sign up for a free trial today, at: www.verboapp.co.uk/try-verbo/