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SEN Support – Communication and Interaction

Next steps for when limited or no progress is made using universal strategies within the Communication and Interaction area of need

Part of
Somerset’s Graduated Response Tool

The purpose of this pathway is to ensure every child and young person in a Somerset school receives the support they are entitled to

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Contents

Next steps for when limited or no progress is made using universal strategies within the Communication and Interaction area of need

SEN SupportExpressive languageReceptive languageSocial communicationListening and attentionMore information

Part of
Somerset’s Graduated Response Tool

The purpose of this pathway is to ensure every child and young person in a Somerset school receives the support they are entitled to

1

Statutory Special Educational Needs (SEN) information

Statutory Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) information
5

Expectations for Whole School Inclusion

Expectations for Whole School Inclusion
7

Inclusion for each Broad Area of Need

Information about the four areas of need set out in the Code of Practice

Inclusion for each Broad Area of Need
12

Graduated Response Tool – Complex Medical Needs

Graduated Response Tool – Complex Medical Needs
13

Supporting tools, documents and signposting

Supporting tools, documents and signposting

SEN Support

Where limited or no progress is made using Universal strategies, further assessment of barriers should take place. This assessment will inform which strategies at both Universal and SEN Support should be put into place. Progress will be monitored through successive Assess, Plan, Do, Review (APDR) cycles.

Expressive language

Expressive language – tools for identification of need

To include Universal support plus:

  • Talkabout: A Social Communication Skills Package – a social communication skills package which also supports attention and listening skills. Beginning with a basic assessment procedure to evaluate the pupil’s self-awareness, as well as the awareness of others. It is divided into six levels and provides professionals with a framework for the development of social skills. There is Talkabout for Children and Talkabout for Teenagers
  • Time to talk by Alison Schroeder was Developed to teach and develop oral language and social interaction skills to children aged 4 to 6. Containing 40 sessions, designed to take place two to three times a week, the book aims to help teachers develop the ‘rules’ of interaction with the help of the character Ginger the Bear, who features in all the activities
  • Talk Boost interventions can help children improve their speaking and understanding
  • Attention Autism aims to work on the early fundamentals of language including awareness of others, attention, listening, shared attention, switching attention and turn-taking
  • Socially Speaking by Alison Schroeder is a social skills programme that lasts a whole school year and is divided into three units: let’s communicate, let’s be friends, and let’s practise. As pupils progress through the carefully structured programme, their self-esteem will increase and their listening skills and expressive language abilities will improve, and in turn will benefit from enhanced social interaction

Receptive language

Receptive language – tools for identification of need

To include Universal support plus:

  • Talk Boost interventions can help children improve their speaking and understanding, at a cost.

Social communication

Social communication – tools for identification of need
  • Talkabout: A Social Communication Skills Package is a basic assessment procedure to evaluate the pupil’s self-awareness, as well as the awareness of others. Teachers will choose the appropriate level or book to start work at.  For ages 7 years and above, at a cost. Assessment is on the accompanying disc
  • Speech Link SLCN screening, assessment, intervention and support, packages for ages 4 to 8 years, key stage 2 and secondary, at a cost
  • WellComm – GL Assessment – speech and language toolkit, screening to intervention, for ages 6 to 11 years, at a cost

To include Universal support plus:

  • Talkabout: A Social Communication Skills Package Beginning with a basic assessment procedure to evaluate the pupil’s self-awareness, as well as the awareness of others, it is divided into six levels, and provides professionals with a framework for the development of social skills. There is Talkabout for Children and Talkabout for Teenagers
  • Socially Speaking by Alison Schroeder is a social skills programme that lasts a whole school year and is divided into three units: let’s communicate, let’s be friends, and let’s practise. As pupils progress through the carefully structured programme, their self-esteem will increase and their listening skills and expressive language abilities will improve, and in turn will benefit from enhanced social interaction
  • Time to talk by Alison Schroeder Developed to teach and develop oral language and social interaction skills to children aged 4-6. Containing 40 sessions, designed to take place two to three times a week, the book aims to help teachers to develop the ‘rules’ of interaction with the help of the character Ginger the Bear, who features in all the activities
  • SCERTS focuses on building competence in Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Support
  • Attention Autism aims to work on the early fundamentals of language including awareness of others, attention, listening, shared attention, switching attention and turn-taking

Listening and attention

Listening and attention – tools for identification of need
  • Talkabout: A Social Communication Skills Package is a basic assessment procedure to evaluate the pupil’s self-awareness, as well as the awareness of others. Teachers will choose the appropriate level or book to start work at. For ages 7 years and above, at a cost. Assessment is on the accompanying disc.
  • Speech Link  SLCN screening, assessment, intervention and support, packages for 4- to 8-year-olds, KS2 and Secondary, at a cost.
  • WellComm – GL Assessment – speech and language toolkit, screening to intervention, for ages 6 to 11 years, at a cost.

To include Universal support plus:

  • Talkabout: A Social Communication Skills Package which also supports attention and listening skills. Beginning with a basic assessment procedure to evaluate the pupil’s self-awareness, as well as the awareness of others, it is divided into six levels and provides professionals with a framework for the development of social skills. There is Talkabout for Children and Talkabout for Teenagers
  • Time to talk by Alison Schroeder was Developed to teach and develop oral language and social interaction skills to children aged 4 to 6. Containing 40 sessions, designed to take place two to three times a week, the book aims to help teachers develop the ‘rules’ of interaction with the help of the character Ginger the Bear, who features in all the activities
  • Talk Boost interventions can help children improve their speaking and understanding
  • Attention Autism aims to work on the early fundamentals of language including awareness of others, attention, listening, shared attention, switching attention and turn-taking
  • Socially Speaking by Alison  Schroeder is a social skills programme that lasts a whole school year and is divided into three units: let’s communicate, let’s be friends, and let’s practise. As pupils progress through the carefully structured programme, their self-esteem will increase and their listening skills and expressive language abilities will improve, and in turn will benefit from enhanced social interaction

More information

See our Communication and Interaction – How can I find out more? page for assessments, learning strategies and provisions.

Last updated: November 13, 2024

Next review due: May 13, 2025

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