Archived decisions

Hampshire Health Review Committee

Access to therapy services for children in school and pre-school

Responses to Foundation Stage clusters questionnaire

Foundation Stage clusters explanation in body of report

    Number of clusters

    71

    Primary / Infant schools

    350

    No of returns

    29

    North returns

    3

    North east returns

    8

    South east returns

    7

    South west returns

    2

    North west & central returns

    9

    1. For the academic year 2003-04 how many children did you refer for

      a) Speech & Language therapy

    0

    1-3

    4-6

    7-10

    4

    17

    6

    2

      b) Occupational therapy

    0

    1-3

    4-6

    7-10

    19

    10

    Unable to refer

      c) Physiotherapy

    0

    1-3

    4-6

    7-10

    27

    2

    Unable to refer

    Comments

    Lack of OT in area.

    A higher number of children than normal referred at pre-school

    2. For speech and language, on average, how long did the child wait before assessment?

    0-4 weeks 5-12 weeks 3-6 months 6-12 months 12-18 months 18-24 months No response

3

16

4

    Comments

    Receive block visits from S&LT

    S&LT attached to school

    3. For occupational therapy, on average, how long did the child wait before assessment?

    0-4 weeks 5-12 weeks 3-6 month 6-12 months 12-18 months 18-24 months No response

2

2

1

    Comments

    Advised by OT waiting time 12-18 months

    No OT available in area

    Children waiting 18 months and 6 months since referral - still not seen

    OT attached to school

    4. For physiotherapy, on average, how long did the child wait before assessment?

    0-4 weeks 5-12 weeks 3-6 months 6-12 months 12-18 months 18-24 months No response

1

    Comments

    PT attached to school

    5. Following assessment was there a waiting time for treatment?

    Speech & language Yes / No Occupational Yes / No Physio Yes / No

    Yes

    No

    No response

    Yes

    No

    No response

    Yes

    No

    No response

    4

    18

    2

    1

    7

    Still waiting

    1

    Comments

    About 4 week wait for programme

    S&LT on site 3 days a week

    Long wait for follow up visits

    6. Are school staff involved in the delivery of the child's programme for

    Speech & language Yes / No Occupational Yes / No Physio Yes / No

    Yes

    No

    No response

    Yes

    No

    No response

    Yes

    No

    No response

    24

    sometimes

    9

    Still waiting

    1

    Comments

    School staff planning and providing programme due to lack of S&LT

    School has provision for language impairment

    Programme delivered by learning support assistant, teachers and SENco

    Floating learning support assistant who delivers S&LT

    It is not always possible for the learning support assistant to deliver the programme

    7. Are the child's needs being met through this process for

    Speech & language Yes / No Occupational Yes / No Physio Yes / No

    Yes

    No

    No response

    Yes

    No

    No response

    Yes

    No

    No response

    24

    2

    8

    2

    1

    1

    Comments

    Need more visits from S&LT

    Many changes to S&LT staff which has been disruptive

    Time is limited, learning support assistants do this task but also have other responsibilities x3

    8. In your experience, what are the issues for parents about the process?

    Long wait for initial assessment x7

    Shortage of staff x2

    Direct access for parents appears difficult x3

    Being kept informed on child's progress x4

    General frustration at delays and bureaucracy x2

    Parents unsure about their role x3

    Fear of child being labelled

    Attending appointments

    9. In your experience, what are the issues for children about the process?

    Some children find the 1:1 worrying

    Continuity of therapists x2

    Enjoy working with therapist x6

    Being withdrawn from class x3

    Feeling confident about working with someone unfamiliar

    Some activities are too difficult for the child

    Some children become withdrawn as they realise they have a difficulty others do not have

    10. Do you feel that the relevant staff in your school have received adequate training to support the child's therapy programme? Yes / No

    Yes

    No

    No response

    13

    9

    mixed

    Comments

    Training was very general and not specific enough

    More training required, good if therapists could observe sessions to see if they are ok

    More training would benefit the children

    Need more detail on programmes

    11. If No to question 10 what further areas of training do you feel are necessary?

    Understanding of what to do and why do it in a particular way

    How to implement a speech programme

    How to get the best from a speech programme x2

    Updates on phonic progression and social communication programmes

    Statutory / free training for teachers, learning support assistants on S&LT specific issues

    More training on specific areas of SEN x2

    12. Any other comments you wish to make?

    We have a dedicated learning support assistant to carry out programmes. We feel there should be more time with S&LT and more work should happen at pre-school level.

    Provision in this area is very poor for the past 5 years. Pupils with complex needs are let down by the system (this school was serviced by Wiltshire)

    Difficult to release teachers to discuss children and programme with therapists

    Increasing number of children whose need has not been identified before admission to school

    S&LT need to visit more regularly

    Good support from therapists

    Staff changes have led to reduced level of support

    Waiting time for OT assessment still a concern x2

    Feel the EP service needs to be looked at for children with learning difficulties so they can be seen more often. Also need more information on how to support their needs