Speech and Language

On admission, students are fully assessed for verbal comprehension and listening skills, expressive language, vocabulary and semantic skills, high level language ability, and social interaction skills. At Key Stages 2 and 3, the students work in class groups on different aspects of social communication skills.

Functional listening skills are also addressed as this has a direct impact on a student’s ability to access the content of the curriculum. Therapists target areas of difficulty using a combination of individual sessions and support within the curriculum. Close liaison with teaching staff is maintained.  At Key Stage 4, Speech and Language Therapists work alongside an Occupational Therapist to provide class-based Social Communication Skills lessons with emphasis on their needs in the world after school. In Year 10, students participate in the English Speaking Board ‘Certificate of Oral Proficiency’ examination.