Speech, Language & Communication (SLC) difficulties arise at different ages and with different levels of severity. There may be related learning difficulties in general or in specific aspects of SLC.  Often children will present with related Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

In Torbay, most young children with speech and language difficulties will be identified at an early age, prior to statutory schooling, through early years tracking programmes and/or health authority screening programmes.  Although early intervention strategies can be put in place before formal schooling, there is often a need to continue support beyond the start of school, particularly where the needs are complex and severe.

Early Years settings and schools should consider the specific nature of the child’s difficulty in relation to developmental levels and the extent to which the difficulties are related to receptive and/or expressive language acquisition. Some children will have good expressive language which masks difficulties in understanding the purpose and meaning of language. Some children may have specific difficulties with speech sound production.  We also need to be alert to those children who selectively use speech, language and communication skills or who are dysfluent in their speech.

Having English as an additional or second language is not a special educational need. However, practitioners should carefully monitor the progress of children with EAL to identify if they may have additional needs.

In most cases it is prudent to seek advice from the Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) services by using the Advice Line 03333219448.  Despite targeted provision, a child may make little or no progress with their SLC skills. In this case, a referral to the Speech and Language Therapy services will be important.