King’s Wood School Language ARP
We have at King's Wood school a department which provides additional support for children who are experiencing speech and language issues. This department is now known as the Language Additionally Resourced Provision or the Language ARP.
Staff in Language ARP:
Teacher -Mrs S. Rooke (all day Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
Speech and Language Therapists -Mrs J. Ravenscroft, Mrs M. Randall (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday am)
Support Assistants –Full time;Mrs S. Burnard, Mrs S. Henry, Mrs N. Hughes, Ms B. Malkin; part time- Mrs J. Chandler, Mrs C. Davis-Foster.
The Language ARP has places for 15 children covering both Key Stage 1 and 2.The children all have a Statement of Special Need relating to Specific Speech and Language difficulties with evidence of average or above average non-verbal potential. The children are all members of a mainstream class, taking part in lessons with their class and are supported within class, the level of support depending on their educational needs. They are also withdrawn for specific work with the Language ARP staff. This can take the form of specialist teaching, individual speech and language therapy or small group work.
The children generally participate in a language group to develop specific areas of language, such as use of verbs or question words, but to also improve attention, listening, turn taking, and social language skills.
There is close liaison between staff in the Language ARP and the main school with regular meetings and updates of aims and progress made. Knowledge is shared about the nature of Speech and Language difficulties and how children’s work in class may be affected. Strategies are discussed to enable the children to work to the best of their ability within their mainstream class. Staff from the Language ARP promote strong links with parents.
On a daily basis there is a home school book in which news and information can be communicated and questions can be asked and answered. At the start of each term parents are invited to come in so that we can discuss IEPs (Individual Education Plans - which outline areas of reading, writing, numeracy etc. to be developed) and Speech and Language Therapy aims.
A ‘Parents get together’ is generally planned for each term. This is an informal meeting where parents can find out more about what we are working on in the ARP, meet and chat with each other and drink tea and eat biscuits! Past meetings have included talks about word maps and games for developing the use of action words. Information is also provided to parents regarding activities we are carrying out at school and ways they can help their child at home.·
Each year an Annual Review is held, to which parents are invited. At this meeting the children’s progress is reviewed and it is decided whether the children’s needs can still be met by the Language ARP. The staff at the Language ARP encourage parents to support their children develop their speech, language, literacy and numeracy skills.