Creating a holistic profile for a pupil with SLCN
In this unit, we look at the difficulties experienced by pupils with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Your unit PDF and the digital resources cover several key areas that you will need to understand when developing a profile of a pupil with SLCN:
- Definitions of SLCN
- Comorbidity with other areas of SEN
- Typical speech and language development
- How to gather information about a pupil
- How to categorise and analyse information to create a holistic profile of the pupil and their SLCN
Characteristics of SLCN
Speech
Speech disorders can present as difficulties with forming sounds or as problems with the pitch or volume of the voice. Difficulties with speech therefore include the following:
- Speech which is difficult to understand, possibly due to problems in making different sounds
- Difficulties in discriminating between speech sounds
- Stammering or stuttering
- An unusual voice quality
- Problems in using intonation to add meaning or emphasis to what is being said
SLCD is used to describe...
50%
Up to 50% of children who grow up in areas of social disadvantage may start school with communication skills that are less developed than their peers from more affluent areas.
7%
At the age of 7, approximately 7% of children with SLCN have it as their primary difficulty. This is also referred to as having a specific language impairment (SLI).
3-4%
Around 3-4% of children have SLCN as part of another condition ??? for example autism, a hearing impairment, or MLD.
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Sources
I CAN Talk, Issue 4, Language and Social Exclusion (PDF, 3.3MB)
Tomblin, JB, Records, NL, Buckwalter, P, Zhang, X, Smith, E and O???Brien, M (1997), Prevalence of specific language impairment in kindergarten children, Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 40, 1245-1260
Other SEN
- Speech and language impairments
- Learning difficulties
- ASD
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- DCD
- ADHD
- BESD
Pupil voice
In order to gain a full understanding of a pupil's SLCN and complete a comprehensive and holistic profile of their needs, it is important that you ascertain the views of the pupil. They may be able to give insight into:
- What they find difficult as a result of their SLCN
- The impact of their SLCN on their learning
- How having SLCN restricts social and academic participation
- The features of lessons that they find most accessible
- The approach they use when they don't understand or can't express something
- What they feel their strengths are
Additionally, you can enhance your understanding of the pupil by asking about their perspective on SLCN, and feelings relating to being labelled as having SLCN.