‘learning without limits’ h -...

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www.taughmonaghprimary.org

‘Learning Without Limits’

AND LANGUAGE UNIT

Taughmonagh Primary School Speech and Language UnitThis booklet is to inform you

about the organisation and purpose of our Speech and Language Unit. The unit was set up in 2000 and we currently have three classes. Each specialist teacher is supported by a classroom assistant who has received training in Reading Partnership and ELKAN - a Speech and Language Programme. Additionally, they have attended accredited courses run by the ASD outreach support service. The unit is supported by a Speech and Language Therapy

department consisting of two Speech and Language Therapists and a Speech and Language Therapy assistant. All the staff in the unit are dedicated to creating a language-rich environment to enable your child to reach their full potential.

The pupils are taught the NI Curriculum as they would be in a mainstream school. However, we modify our teaching strategies to ensure that your child’s speech and language difficulties are not a barrier to learning. There is a focus on

teaching vocabulary through the sound, sight and meaning of each word.

It is very important to us that your child becomes a confident communicator, so we model correct speech at all times and praise your child when they use these strategies.


Taughmonagh Primary School is a small, friendly school situated

in South Belfast with a Nursery and Speech and Language Unit.

Our aims are to:

• deliver the NI Curriculum at the level appropriate to each child’s age and ability;

• assist children to become effective communicators and to use their language skills for the range of learning activities offered;

• create a language-rich classroom;

• work in partnership with parents and encourage them to support their child’s language development;

• recognise that each child is unique and employ an appropriate variety of teaching methods;

• recognise the importance of play as a vehicle for early years language development; and

• collaborate with all those professionals who contribute to each child’s programme of language development.

Language is viewed as the most important means of thinking about and responding to the world. Children will be encouraged to

become aware of the need to communicate, to listen actively with understanding, and to communicate so that the message and

meaning are clear.

Who will be

working with your

child?

Mrs M Ringland - Class Teacher & SLU Co-ordinator

Mrs P Roberts - Class Teacher

Miss S Mairs - Class Teacher

Mrs C Bonner - Head of SLU Therapy Department

Mrs B Mercer - Classroom Asst to Mrs Ringland

Mrs L Chivers - Classroom Asst to Mrs Roberts

Mrs R Lavrijsen - Classroom Asst to Miss Mairs

Teacher/Therapist PartnershipThe unit teachers and Speech and Language Therapists work collaboratively as follows:

•Regular planning meetings to plan, evaluate and review therapy intervention for group and individual therapy session.

•Jointly conducted parent consultations and Annual Reviews.

•Jointly conducted speech groups.

‘I came to Taughmonagh from Greenwood with my friends and have made more special friends’.

‘I enjoy using the iPads and Interactive Whiteboard’.

‘Things that make me smile are seeing my good friends’.

Supporting your

child with their

homework.

Reading

Throughout the year, your child will be given reading books to take home on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Your child’s class teacher will have chosen a level of text to encourage your child to read independently. Your child will gain confidence and enjoyment from reading to a variety of audiences, for example brothers and sisters, grandparents etc. Please give your child the opportunity to repeatedly read the same book as they will derive pleasure from familiarity. Additionally, pupils will be given a guided reading book in school which will be used to teach them new vocabulary and reading strategies.

Spellings

When your child is ready, they will begin a phonetically-based spelling programme which will enable them to decode words by segmenting and blending. Parental support is vital in consolidating at home spellings that have been taught that day in school.

Speech HomeworkWhere appropriate, Speech and Language Therapists will prepare exercises to be practised at home. It is vital for your child’s speech and language development that speech homework is completed by parents regularly.

Partnership

You have a crucial role in your child’s ability to succeed. We therefore value the opportunity to work together.

•You can arrange to see the unit and meet members of staff prior to your child attending the school.

• You will be invited to meet your child’s teacher, and will be given information about the school before the start of the year. This gives you the opportunity to tell us about your child’s needs.

• You will have an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress during interviews with the class teacher and Speech Therapists throughout the year.

• Home/School diaries are used to maintain contact between us.

• You will have the opportunity to talk with your child’s class teacher during the monthly Toy and Book Library.

• Parents are welcome to contact any of the Speech and Language Therapists in order to discuss issues related to their child Monday-Friday after 3.00 p.m. - telephone number 9038 2586.

• The school website is regularly updated following school trips and events.

• It is important to us that you feel that you can contact us at anytime. We will return calls as soon as possible.


Inclusion

Pupils in the unit are encouraged to integrate with pupils from the mainstream primary school. This takes place in unstructured environments and during whole school activities. For example, every child is involved in an annual school performance. In addition, pupils will be timetabled to join their peers for afternoon classes, swimming and Friday clubs.

Education Plans

Annual Reviews

ProvisionInclusion


As advocated by the NI Code of Practice, the class teacher draws up Education Plans in consultation with the Speech and Language Therapist.

Annual reviews aim to assess your child’s progress towards meeting the objectives specified in the Statement, and to collate information for use in planning future provision for your child.

Your child‘s speech and language skills will be assessed/reassessed in September and throughout the year where appropriate.

Inclusion


The Education Plan is built on the curriculum your child is following alongside peers. A great deal of thought is put into the Education Plan and the class teacher will discuss your child’s needs with all the professionals involved in their care.

There will always be an opportunity to consider whether it might be appropriate to change your child’s placement or maintain the Statement. All options are discussed with you and the professionals involved with your child.

As a result of these assessments an educational psychologist may be requested to review your child’s current placement. Possible outcomes of this intervention may be that they transfer to a mainstream primary school or to different provision.

Inclusion


The Education Plan is fully implemented in the classroom. Parents are consulted and previous plans reviewed.

Parents will be given an opportunity to submit a report expressing views prior to the annual review meeting.

Review of provision may take place during any school year of the your child’s placement in the unit. This means that a child may remain in the unit for anything between one year and five.

Social Security Forms

Following advice, teachers from the Speech and Language Unit

do not complete social security forms. Pupils may present

differently in the highly structured school environment, which may

not provide a true reflection of the challenges that may be evident

elsewhere.

Forest SchoolAll the pupils in the Speech and Language Unit are involved in a forest school project once every half term. The pupils from all three classes are accompanied by the class teachers, classroom assistants

and Speech and Language Therapists. We are within walking distance of Barnetts Park and the tow path that runs alongside the Lagan so the trips are free. We use these days to teach the concept of time through the signs of the seasons. The pupils have specific tasks to carry out which draws their attention to the wildlife and the

natural environment. After outings, teachers are amazed by the pupils’ observations and the language that the outing has prompted. It is also a lovely occasion for the pupils to become more familiar with members of staff who are not in their classroom. Pupils use art or literacy to record what they saw and did.

Educational Visits

Outings are arranged throughout the year to enhance the children’s learning. This year there have been trips to the Lyric Theatre, QFT, Ulster Museum, Castle Espie, Finaghy Library and Barnetts Park.

We feel that trips are a valuable part of learning at Taughmonagh.

‘Learning Without

Limits’

UniformThis consists of a white polo shirt, red sweatshirt, grey skirt/trousers and school shoes. Polo shirts and sweatshirts are available from the office.

HolidaysA list of holidays will be sent home at the beginning of each academic year.

MoneyThe price of dinners, milk, and break (where applicable) varies from year to year, so details will be given by your class teacher. It is very important that you try to send in the correct change. It would be greatly appreciated if money could be sent in on Mondays.

PEFor safety reasons, each child is required to have a pair of PE slippers, supplied in a bag.

‘learning without limits’ h -...

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