SPEECH PATHOLOGY
As a part of Bellbridge Primary School’s commitment to supporting the needs of all students, we have partnered with Speech Pathology for Schools (SPS) to employ a school speech pathologist two days a week. We are very excited for Eve to join us Mondays and Wednesdays.
Speech Pathology for Schools provide holistic school-based speech pathology support. They will work collaboratively with Bellbridge Primary School to improve our student outcomes. School data along with speech pathology data is used to target support and monitor progress. Speech Pathology for Schools works with each school to tailor a program to meet specific needs.
What is the role of a speech pathologist?
What is oral language?
What oral language screening assessment will be used at Bellbridge Primary School?
How will students be selected to participate in intervention?
What will oral language intervention look like?
Speech Pathology for Schools provide holistic school-based speech pathology support. They will work collaboratively with Bellbridge Primary School to improve our student outcomes. School data along with speech pathology data is used to target support and monitor progress. Speech Pathology for Schools works with each school to tailor a program to meet specific needs.
What is the role of a speech pathologist?
- A speech pathologist specialises in communication, speech, language and literacy skills. They help to identify, assess and provide support for students in these areas.
- The speech pathologist works with students to provide tailored, evidence-based support to help improve their academic outcomes. This support may occur in the classroom and at times students may be withdrawn from class to participate in small group activities.
What is oral language?
- Oral language refers to the vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure we use when talking.
What oral language screening assessment will be used at Bellbridge Primary School?
- The Renfrew Action Picture Test (RAPT) is used by the school speech pathologist to screen whole cohorts of students. The assessment requires the students to respond to ten questions about ten different pictures.
- This assessment screens the vocabulary, use of grammar and sentence formation skills of each student and was scored based upon normative data. This means that each student’s score was compared to the expected developmental language norms of children the same age as them.
- This assessment provides two scores. One based on the information that was provided by the students, and one score based on the grammatical markers (eg- use of correct past tense) and sentence structure used by the students in their responses.
How will students be selected to participate in intervention?
- Based on the information collected by this screening assessment and through discussion with leadership, children are identified for oral language intervention with the school speech pathologist.
What will oral language intervention look like?
- Students will be provided with explicit instruction regarding the language ‘rules’ when putting sentences together as well as using different grammatical markers (eg- using ‘is’ vs ’are’ or regular vs irregular plurals). Students will also be provided with the opportunity for additional practice of these skills.
- Students may also be exposed to and learn about the meanings of a variety of different words to help expand their vocabulary.
- Students will also receive additional support from Education Support staff to ensure they are practicing the skills from the oral language groups on the days when the speech pathologist is not at the school.
