Has your child previously received speech and language therapy in school and seen good progress, only for the support be withdrawn once their level was deemed to be “okay”?
Primary school headteacher, Jeremy Thompson, says this is a case that he sees far too often.
South Wales primary school teacher, Jeremy Thompson
Children like one of his school pupils, Sophie, struggle with difficulties like unclear speech. The NHS provide some speech assistance in schools, but Thompson argues that it is not enough.
He says it was “heart-breaking watching Sophie make progress, but then not maintain it when her support was withdrawn. Even worse was trying to explain to her parents, who don’t understand the system, why she still has difficulty after the support has suddenly disappeared.”
That is why Jeremy Thompson is now starting a movement, encouraging all schools to employ their own speech and language therapist individually. Where this is not possible, he suggests that schools “club together and share a therapist, dividing their time up depending on school size and the needs of the pupils and staff.”
If you have experienced something similar with your child’s school, then do share your story in the comments section below.
You can read Jeremy’s full article on the TES website here. We wish him all the best in his endeavour and hope that many more children can benefit from speech and language help, from the beginning right through to the very end.
– Maddie