Speech, Language and Communication Needs

Dacorum has two Speech and Language bases supporting children and young people locally and across West Hertfordshire.

Longdean Speech and Language base is the only Secondary base in the west of the County. Please visit their website to find out more about support for parents and teaching staff – CLICK HERE

Chaulden Infants and Nursery School caters for up to 10 pupils with statements of SEN for speech, language and communication disorders within West Herfordshire. Please contact them through their website – CLICK HERE

Chaulden Junior School has a 10 place KS2 Base for children with an EHCP who have speech, language and communication as their main need. They can also offer support around SLCN to other settings, including delivering training in Word Aware, a whole school approach to teaching vocabulary across the curriculum. For more information CLICK HERE

Elklan was established in 1999 by two experienced speech and language therapists Liz Elks and Henrietta McLachlan in response to a demand for training to be delivered by speech and language therapists to education staff to enable them to be more effective in their support of children with speech, language and communication needs. Visit www.elklan.co.uk for more information.

Dacorum DSPL is funding training for all DSPL8 teaching staff, from early years settings up to secondary schools.

NVQ level 3 Qualification in Speech and Language Support for 11-16 year olds – email p.hickey@longdean.herts.sch.uk at Longdean Speech and Language Base for more information.

ELKLAN training for early years and primary schools – Email abigail.bude@hct.nhs.uk to find out more and book

The Communication Trust has published a very useful booklet on the stages of children’s communication development from birth to 5 years. It includes lots of great ideas to encourage young children to talk. You can download this booklet by clicking on the following link:

https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/resources/resources/resources-for-practitioners/universally-speaking.aspx

Makaton

Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people to communicate. It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and symbols are used with speech, in spoken word order.

To view a variety of resources and courses available to parents, carers and professionals visit the Makaton official website www.makaton.org/aboutMakaton/

The “Singing Hands” website offers a range of Makaton resources including courses, DVD’s and books to purchase. Visit their website at

https://singinghands.co.uk/ and search for “Singing Hands” on “You tube”.

Information Sheets

Hertfordshire SL&CN Quality Offer