ECaT
I'm a childminder, can I refer a child to Speech and Language Therapy?
Yes you can, if you have any problems in doing to please contact us and let us know who you spoke to and what problems you had and we'll try and help you. As long as you have parental permission you can make the referal.
What if the parents are not on board?
In short there is nothing you can do, you cannot make any referrals without parental consent. You should keep notes on any conversations you have with the parents and keep working with the child. Keep an open dialogue with the parents, keep working with them. At a point in the future their may be a shift which means they are happy for a referral to be made. Until then you must be respectful of the parents wishes and continue to do your best to support them and the childs needs.
Do I need to buy special resources?
Absolutely not, in fact by the end of the process you might decide to reduce the resources you have. This is not about you spending money on lots of new things, but it is about you reflecting on what you have, how you use them and offering experiences beyond toys to encourage childrens communication. Take a look at the games section and see if that inspires you.
Is there any training I could go on?
We would highly recommend a number of courses run by the Early Years team.
Bringing stories to life
Letters and Sounds
Signalong
Senco
These will all add value to your understanding of childrens communication and development and help inspire you within your setting.