An effective model for a speech and language therapy service in mainstream schools

Health and Local Education Authority (LEA) personnel met in 1993 to consider how to meet the expanding caseload of children, needing speech and language therapy support in mainstream schools. The drive towards an inclusive policy for all children with special needs led to the joint funding of a peripatetic team of speech and language therapists (SLTs) and assistants. The preparatory training programmes for the team and school based staff focused on ensuring that differing perceptions, expectations and skills were acknowledged. Evaluation of the model has examined throughput, the opinion of consumers, pre- and post-therapy profiles of individual children and the team's view of their effectiveness in each school. The rotational service was implemented in 20 schools in January 1996 and 50 schools now participate.