Unicorn School

Speech & Language

Good communication skills underpin the development of a child’s learning, thinking and social skills.

Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) often occur in conjunction with dyslexia and related learning difficulties. Students at The Unicorn School may need support to develop their speech, language & communication needs. A speech difficulty refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds, whereas a language difficulty refers to a difficulty understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas. A student may also need support to develop their social skills (communication needs). Social skills are the skills we use every day to interact & communicate with others. They include verbal and non-verbal communication, such as talking, gesture, facial expression and body language.

Our in-house Speech and Language Therapist provides specialist support for those with speech, language & communication needs. The level of support varies depending on the needs of the individual child. Social skills groups are run by the Speech & Language Therapist as well as one to one sessions. The Speech & Language Therapist will also offer support & advice on ways to help students in class.

The Unicorn School has been awarded the prestigious ELKLAN Communication Friendly Setting (CFS) status for both our primary & secondary parts of the school. We are the only school in Oxfordshire to have achieved this accreditation, so we are very proud of this achievement.

The CFS has enabled staff to develop an increased understanding on ways to support students with speech, language and communication needs. This accreditation has helped us build on the fantastic specialist teaching we already provide by taking a whole-school approach to speech and language. We integrate speech and language support practices into every classroom & one to one lesson creating a communication-supportive environment for all children at our school.

Caroline McIntyre, One to One teacher at The Unicorn School said “I have completed the Secondary age Elklan course (as part of the CFS process for our school) and it was one of the most useful courses I have attended, I could use the strategies and ideas I learnt with my pupils immediately”.

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