Communication and Interaction
Children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) have difficulty communicating with others. This may be because they have difficulty saying what they want to, understanding what is being said to them or they do not understand or use social rules for communication. The profile for every child with SLCN is different and their needs may change over time. They may have difficulty with one, some or all of the different aspects of speech, language or social communication at different times of their lives. Being with others helps children to build social relationships which provide opportunities for friendship, empathy and sharing emotions. Communication and Interaction also includes attention and Listening skills, Understanding and speaking.
Children and young people may have difficulty with:
- Receptive Language
- Difficulty in understanding and processing language
- Expressive Language
- Difficulty with the use of spoken language or nonverbal communication
- Pragmatic/social communication
- Difficulty with social interaction, social cognition, and pragmatics.
- Speech sound difficulty
- Difficulty with phonological skills or articulation skills.
How we support our children with SEND in this area
Interaction skills are supported through the use of intensive interaction. Intensive interaction is similar to the mother-baby response.
The adult copies the sounds a child makes and the actions they do, which teaches the child that interacting is fun and purposeful.
Communication skills are taught by supporting children with visuals and using appropriate communication methods to allow children to communicate their wants and needs e.g. objects, photographs and symbols. Children are referred to speech therapists if they need additional support in this area and advice is used to inform targets specific to the child.
TICPAC (TACPAC) brings together touch and music to create structured time of communication between two people.
Speech is the ‘cherry on the top’. If a child is able to use meaningful speech, we are able to develop this through specific strategies and interventions.
Please see below for some of our strategies and Interventions:
-Story bucket
-Communication tubs
–PECS
-Turn taking