Speech, Language and Communication Pathway
Stages
Lifecourse Stage
> Pregnancy
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Community
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A 'place based' aproach to speech, language and communication development in the early years. Local services work together to improve children's outcomes and reduce inequalities.
Universal
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All children receive a universal service which aims to prevent future problems, by supporting parents to provide the best possible home learning environment and by providing effective, inclusive, communication environments in early years settings. It also includes early identification of children with suspected speech, language and communication needs, or those at high risk, so that early support can be put in place (at a targeted or specialist level according to need).
Targeted
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Some children will also require additional targeted support to help their speech, language and communication to develop and maintain close monitoring of outcomes. Additional support is provided by suitably trained early years practitioners or parents, and guided by specialists, e.g. speech and language therapists (SLT).
Provision should be available at all levels of need: universal, targeted and specialist - children can have varying needs and benefit from interventions at different levels simultaneously. Movement between levels of intervention is fluid; some children will respond to a targeted intervention and may then only require universal services, while others may go on to have a more persistent need and potentially require specialist services (but will still also require and should receive universal services).