What do you notice about the child or young person?

What do you notice about the child or young person’s speech, language and communication skills? Are their communication skills age appropriate or do they have a differentiated profile?

The following points may indicate that a child or young person has SLC needs:

• Is speech difficult to understand? For example, a persistent delay or disordered speech sound production

• Speech sound difficulties impacting on their acquisition and development of literacy skills

• Difficulty understanding or remembering instructions in the classroom. For example, with comprehension and in using language. Think about how this impacts on access to curriculum?

• Difficulties using words and making sentences

• Difficulties with social interaction and making and maintaining friendships with peers

• Inappropriate responses to verbal and non-verbal communication

• Lower than expected attainment across a number of curriculum areas. Are these linked to speech, language and/or communication difficulties?

• Challenging or withdrawn behaviour. Behaviour is observed in variety of learning and/or social settings

• Difficulties speaking across a range of contexts within the school day.

Last updated 6 August 2021