Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy: Primary Schools
This speech and language therapy service supports children and young people with communication and eating and feeding difficulties including:
- Mild, moderate or severe learning difficulties
- Physical disabilities
- Language delay
- Specific language impairment
- Specific difficulties in producing sounds
- Hearing impairment
- Cleft palate
- Stammering
- Autism/social interaction difficulties
- Dyslexia
- Voice disorders
- Selective mutism
The child or young person must be registered with a Harrow GP and/or should be a Harrow resident.
What does the service provide?
The speech and language therapists (SLT) aim to provide a high-quality, needs-led service to children and young people with communication and eating and feeding difficulties. To achieve this, we work in partnership with the children, their parents or carers, teachers, teaching assistants, and other health, education and social care professionals and voluntary bodies.
Each school in Harrow has a designated SLT who co-ordinates the service to that school. Intervention is primarily carried out in partnership with parents, school staff and other professionals. This is done by:
- Providing assessment and review to establish how the pupil’s needs impact on their ability to access the school day.
- Joint target setting and strategy development with school staff for inclusion into the child or young person's individual educational plan.
- Direct therapy for children with a specific clinical need as required. This always involves collaboration with school staff to ensure carryover into the classroom.
- Attendance at Annual Reviews and Planning Meetings as necessary.
- Training/INSET is offered to all schools
Emphasis is placed on supporting the school so that strategies can be implemented throughout the school day.
How do I access the service?
All professionals and parents can make a referral. Parental consent is essential to all referrals.
For all referrals, schools are asked to complete a referral checklist in order to provide information about their concerns, support that has been put in place by school and the child’s response to this. Forms are available in all schools, via the service website or from the speech and language therapy service.
Once referrals are processed by the Principal Speech and Language Therapist for Schools we aim to see each child within 8 weeks. Each child will receive an assessment in school, although some assessments are also offered during school holidays. Following assessment, a decision will be made regarding future management and a written report will be provided.
Referrals for children with mild speech difficulties, a stammer or voice problem may be seen at a community clinic or at Alexandra Avenue
This service is available from Monday to Friday, 8.30 to 5.30pm.
Contact Us
Paediatric Therapy Department
Alexandra Avenue Health and Social Care Centre, 275 Alexandra Ave, Harrow HA2 9DX
Telephone number: 0203 911 6985
The service is provided by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL)