Worcestershire's Vision

"In Worcestershire we want to ensure that every child has every opportunity to develop and achieve in a fun, safe and stimulating environment. The development of effective communication skills is one of the key priorities to help us succeed in this. Children who have good communication skills have improved life chances and choices which enable them to lead fulfilling life-styles throughout their childhood and into adulthood."
(Worcestershire "Developing Speech, Language and Communication: Making a Difference for Children and Yung People: Good Practice Guidelines" page 2)

The Worcestershire County Council Policy on Education Inclusion aims to define the values and principles that will drive practice for children with a learning difficulty and/or disability.  Having a clear vision and shared understanding of the outcomes for all children is vital to success and the Pathway supports the Inclusion Policy's vision where 'everything possible is done to minimise barriers to children and young peoples' learning at the earliest opportunity.' (Worcestershire County Council Policy on Education Inclusion, March 2010)

Vision

To provide speech, language and communication need support for children and young people, as needed, at an appropriate level, as early as possible, to maximise ability to achieve thus improving life chances.

Core delivery principles

• There will be universal information, advice and guidance to all schools, settings and parents and carers to support speech, language and communication development.
• There will be clarity around provision, access to provision and pathways at all levels of need.
• Those settings and schools in rural and urban areas of poverty will receive additional universal and targeted support.
• There will be integrated specialist speech and language therapy services available equitably according to evidenced need.
• The service will provide seamless intervention and support at the earliest opportunity and in the most appropriate environment. There will be a link speech and language therapist for every Children’s Centre and school.
• There will be opportunities for educational settings and schools to purchase an enhanced service from locally held budgets. There will be clarity regarding core and additional services at all levels. Clear guidelines will ensure that Worcestershire schools and settings are able to make an informed choice when commissioning additional services.
• Parents and carers will receive support and advice and be practically involved throughout their contact with the service.
• Service users, families and carers will have an opportunity to participate in the feedback and improvement to service development.
• Training and development opportunities will be provided to ensure that the whole workforce is able to identify need at the earliest opportunity and support children.'

(From the "Proposed Model of Service Delivery" (Joint Commissioning Services to Children and Young People with Speech, Language and Communication Needs Service Redesign, March 2011)

© Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire PCT 2011.

This page was last reviewed 17 May 2013 at 13:41.
The page is next due for review 13 November 2014.