Speech, Language and Communication Needs

Speech, language and communication underpin everything we do including making our needs known, expressing our likes and dislikes, interacting with others, making relationships and is crucial for learning. Some children have speech, language and communication needs or SLCN as they find an aspect of communication difficult.

Speech, Language and Communication Needs are split into 3 main areas:

• Difficulties with speech sounds

• Difficulties with understanding and producing language

• Difficulties with social communication

Some children may have difficulty in only one of these areas, but others may have difficulties in more than one. Some children may have difficulties that can be helped quite easily, whereas others may have greater needs. Sometimes children develop their skills in the usual way, but at a slower rate. This is often called a ‘delay’ or ‘delayed speech and language development’. Children within the Acorn Speech and Language Centre are admitted via the local authority because they have been assessed to have a greater need, that requires specialist support and are usually diagnosed with a speech disorder and/or Developmental Language Disorder. To support pupils within The Acorn Speech and Language Centre targeted interventions are provided from Speech and Language Therapists together with small classes with a high specialist staff to pupil ratio to support the pupils’ learning.