Language Unit
Hardwick Speech and Language Unit has full time places for children, in West Suffolk, aged between
4 and 7 years who have been diagnosed as having a specific speech and language disorder.
Children admitted to the unit will have had a variety of assessments including those from
a speech and language therapist and an educational psychologist. They will be in the
process of being assessed with a view to having a statement or will have a statement
of special educational needs. A placement meeting will be held to decide whether
a child will be offered a place. The child's parents will then visit the Unit
and decide whether to accept the place. The placement will be reviewed each
year at an Annual Review meeting with parents.
Speech and Language Difficulties
Communication involves a very complicated mixture of skills. Your
child may experience difficulty with some of the following:-
Saying and distinguishing between speech sounds
Understanding instructions, questions, vocabulary, sequences of events and concepts
Confusing word order and tense
Learning vocabulary and finding words
Focussing attention
Listening skills
All these difficulties require specialist teaching and
speech and language therapy to ensure that your child
makes the best progress in all areas of the school
curriculum. All staff work closely together with parents to plan appropriate programmes of work.
The Classroom
The teaching in the Language Unit follows the National
Curriculum but gives an extra focus to developing communication skills,
vocabulary, thinking skills, perceptual skills, fine and gross motor skills.
The children spend most of their day in the Language Unit in a class of twelve children
working in small groups or individually. The class has a specialist teacher and a full time classroom assistant.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and language therapy is an integral part of life in the Language Unit.
Each child receives intensive individual and / or group speech and language therapy
from a specialist speech and language therapist and/or her assistant under her direction.
Integration
The children are very much part of Hardwick Primary School and they follow
the main school topics. Each child integrates daily for PE, assemblies,
playtimes and lunchtimes. Additional integration into mainstream
lessons is individually arranged for each child.
As the child progresses through the school, extra integration
is arranged in preparation for their transfer to their local mainstream school.
Home / School Liaison
As with all children the link between home and school is very important. We are able to offer the following support to children and their families:-
Each child has a home/school book for parents and the Unit team to write in daily messages and information. There is also a direct phone line for more urgent matters.
Termly meetings are arranged to discuss each child's targets and talk about their progress.
Annual review meetings take place each year. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss your child's progress and ensure that the special educational provision made continues to be appropriate.
Open afternoons, Coffee Mornings and Time to Share are held each term and parents are welcome to help in the class on a regular basis subject to appropriate checks.
Parents are frequently invited to school on other occasions e.g. to watch a school performance, to assist on a school outing, to participate in PTA functions, Sports Days, Carol Concerts.
Parents are very welcome to visit the Unit at other times. Please telephone first to arrange a convenient time.
Home/School Transport
If parents are unable to bring their children to the Unit each day due to distance, the Local Education Authority will provide a taxi for the child. The taxi drivers bring the children into the Unit each morning and collect them each afternoon.
AFASIC
AFASIC – The Association for all Speech Impaired Children is a charity which offers information and support to the families and carers of children and young people with speech and language difficulties. There are groups throughout the country which organise outings and local fundraising events.
Central Office
AFASIC 1st floor
69 – 85 Old Street
London
EC1V 9HV
Tel: 0207 841 8900
