About the Bases

Pupils in the Speech and Language Bases at Cowley Hill School receive highly individualised teaching that is carefully planned to meet their specific learning needs and accelerate their progress.

Base Staff

The teaching assistants in the KS1 Base observe weekly sessions with the speech and language therapist so that up to date follow up sessions can be given to the children. The teaching assistants in the KS2

Base have undertaken training in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs. There is an NHS speech and language therapist who is attached to each Base. They manage the children’s speech and language therapy programmes. Members of the KS1 and KS2 bases have received Elklan training. This is specific speech and language training to support children in schools. All members of staff in the Bases have received Levels 1 and 2 Makaton training.

Children who have a place in the KS1 Speech and Language Base attend the Base for their English and Maths learning. They have support in their mainstream classes during some afternoon sessions (eg: Science).

Children who have a place in the KS2 Speech and Language Base attend the Base for their English learning and are supported by a Teaching Assistant in their mainstream classes for their Maths learning. They also have support in their mainstream classes during some afternoon sessions (eg: Science).

In the KS1 and KS2 Speech and Language Bases we identify gaps in individual pupils’ learning and tailor the teaching to address these. Pupils are taught in a small group with a teacher and at least one teaching assistant and are, at times, withdrawn for educational and/or speech and language intervention individually, in pairs or groups to meet their specific learning needs and to accelerate their progress.

Lots of time is spent developing pupils’ speaking and listening skills as these form the foundation of successful reading and writing.

We tend to spend a lot of time learning about ‘when’, ‘where’, and ‘who’ in our writing, reading and speaking. The pupils are supported to develop their phonics/spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting as these are important features that will help them to move up with their levels. In writing children learn to write stories (narratives), descriptions, instructions; letters, recounts, reports and poetry and are supported to use their VCOP skills across all these genres! Pupils have regular opportunities to read a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts (including narratives, poetry, fables instructions, plays, information leaflets, maps, diaries and letters) with adults and this helps to develop their decoding (reading the words) and comprehension (understanding what they read). Children have opportunities to develop their inference and prediction skills and are supported to apply these skills when reading.

Please do contact us if you have any questions or would like to talk about your child.