Therapies at Stony Dean School: Speech & Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy
At Stony Dean School, our integrated Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) services are fundamental to supporting pupils’ holistic development. Using a tiered approach—Universal, Targeted, and Specialist interventions—both therapies are designed to meet the communication, sensory, and functional needs of each pupil, promoting optimal participation in their educational and social environments.
Speech & Language Therapy (SALT):
Our SALT service is embedded within the school’s “language-rich” environment, ensuring communication is supported across all aspects of the school day. We utilise a variety of Universal strategies to enhance language development and interaction. A key approach is PORIC (Personal experiences, Object Discovery, Representational, Independence and Consolidation), which promotes kinaesthetic and experiential learning by connecting language to meaningful, real-world contexts.
Additional Universal strategies include:
- Keyword learning: This method visually reinforces new vocabulary with visual including symbols and mind maps, while focusing on letter and syllable identification to enhance literacy and phonological awareness.
- Visual supports: The use of visual schedules, symbols, and task boards e.g. first and next, provides structure and aids understanding for pupils with language processing difficulties, fostering greater independence in daily routines.
- Staff training: Ongoing professional development equips our staff to integrate strategies for communication support, attention, and sensory regulation into their teaching practice. This ensures consistency and enhances the generalisation of skills across contexts.
For pupils requiring more individualised support, Targeted interventions are delivered through structured group sessions focusing on skills such as social communication development and higher-order language functions, including inference and abstract reasoning. Specialist SALT services address complex needs through highly bespoke assessment and intervention, these may include support for pupils with dysphagia (eating and drinking difficulties) or pupils who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.
Occupational Therapy (OT):
Our Occupational Therapy service is integral to addressing barriers that impact pupils’ functional participation, sensory processing, and self-care skills within the school setting. The Universal OT provision supports all pupils through proactive strategies such as sensory regulation programs, including Zones of Regulation and Interoception, which help pupils develop self-awareness and emotional control.
Other key Universal OT interventions include:
- Handwriting and tool manipulation: Fine motor skills programs improve pupils’ ability to manage classroom tools and develop legible, efficient handwriting.
- Sensory processing support: Through environmental adaptations and sensory-friendly classrooms, we enable pupils to better engage with learning while managing sensory overload.
By working collaboratively with the rest of the school team and families, our therapy team provides a holistic, evidence-based model of therapy that supports the individual needs of each pupil. Through this integrated approach, our goal is to empower pupils to develop effective communication and interaction skills, achieve independence, and build the foundational skills necessary for employability and meaningful contributions to their community.
