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Speech & Language Therapy

Striving to provide functional communication for all children, young people and service users is a vital part of the work we do - as is ensuring that all these groups are able to eat and drink safely (pictured).

Girl drinking.

Within our school Speech Language Therapy (SLT) department the children and young people are assessed for their language, communication and oral skills, and also their ability to eat and drink safely. Programmes of work, eating and drinking guidelines and communication profiles are provided for staff and families to help pupils enhance their quality of life.

This work is now being carried over into the adult services where support for communication, safe eating and drinking is provided for both service users and staff.

The SLT team has strong links with external specialists, with SLTs making referals to other specialists in fields such as diet, oral surgery and ear, nose and throat. Within school we maintain a very close relationship with a visiting consultant paediatrician.

Smiling boy.

We also keep up with latest developments by playing an active role in many external professional organisations. These include Communication Matters - the UK branch of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. In addition, we are closely involved with the special interest groups of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists - the Communication, Adult Learning Difficulties and Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) groups are chief among them.

Such is our expertise and interest in this area of therapy that we regularly provide clinical training places for Speech and Language Therapy students from Leeds and Manchester universities.