Speech and Language Therapy
The universal offer to early years providers and how to access
- SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) advice line: access on-the-spot advice for specific queries or general signposting - available Monday to Friday 9:30am to 11:30am. Call 01702 578601. Voicemail facility for outside of staffed hours.
- Websites for Southend providers to access further support: EPUT website (Children's Speech and Language Therapy pages).
- SLT information on Essex Early Years Padlet
- Verbo: online speech and language platform offering screening tools and environment audits alongside staff training on a range of speech language and communication needs (SLCN). Settings can request support to use Verbo/carry out joint screeners to identify children with needs. Verbo sign up link. To request Verbo training or joint screening service email SENDtherapies@southend.gov.uk
- Ask the SALT - Early Years: monthly training session on Teams on a range of SLCN topics. Accessible via the SEND Therapies page on the Southend Learning Network website or you can request the training calendar by emailing SENDtherapies@southend.gov.uk
The targeted offer to early years providers and how to access
- Verbo: after screening children, select targets to access resources and training videos to provide early help for emerging SLCN. Verbo sign up link. To request Verbo training or joint screening service email SENDtherapies@southend.gov.uk
- Targeted intervention groups: request a block of up to 10 weeks of intervention groups on a range of targeted areas to be co-run in your setting with a trained SALT assistant - available to presschools and nurseries. To request targeted interventions email SENDtherapies@southend.gov.uk
The specialist offer to early years providers and how to access
- Referrals to SALT can be made by your health visitor or GP. Specialist assessment and interventions will be provided as required. To access, contact your health visitor or direct parents to GP.
- There will be a named SALT for all children on the caseload. Providers can contact the named SALT to discuss environment, training needs, referral queries and demonstrate specific targets for setting staff. Please contact the central enquiries email address slteducationqueries@nhs.net or call the advice line.
- Named SALT will contribute to the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) process for cases open to the service (for cases not known to the service, advice on service's universal offer will be provided) and to the annual review process for early years children open to the service who already have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in place. Requests by the local authority made via our central email address slteducationqueries@nhs.net