Therapeutic support
Speech and language therapy (SaLT)
What is speech and language therapy (SaLT)?
Speech and Language Therapy supports anyone who has a speech, language and communication need. At Priory school this is often linked to their diagnosis of learning disability and any other diagnoses, e.g. Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism.
Speech and Language Therapy works to develop the communication skills of the individual as well as training for those working with our students to know how to best support and improve communication skills. Communication includes attention skills, listening skills, understanding of spoken language, expressive communication (talking, using communication books, signing) and social skills.
Our aim for Priory school is that:
communication is functional, effective and generalised to all environments the child spends time in
it is a Total Communication environment where signing, symbols, photos, objects and routine are all used to support communication
the Speech and Language Therapy team works closely with families and other agencies involved with individual student
everyone knows how to best support the communication needs of each individual student.
Occupational therapy (OT)
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapists look at the student, their environment and the task the student wants to achieve. We are specialists in adapting each task, grading it to make it achievable and training others to support students to increase their independence and problem solving skills.
Occupational Therapy intervention focuses on the following areas: sensory processing assessments to help understand the student’s sensory needs, functional skills development, advice around safe moving and handling and personal care, functional positioning, upper limb assessment and input, community access and work related learning support both on and off site.
We regularly liaise with families and carers during our assessments and provide training to staff and families.
Our aim for Priory school is:
To provide individualised sensory programmes for students that display sensory processing difficulties. These sensory programmes aim to provide appropriate sensory input to get student’s ready to learn and engage in activities and tasks.
Ensure students are equipped with resources to enable them to be as independent as possible.
To educate class teams and families on support strategies to encourage participation and independence in everyday activities.
The Occupational Therapy team works closely with class teams, families and other agencies involved with individual students.
Behaviour support
What is behaviour support?
The overall aim of our behaviour support at Priory school is to improve the quality of a person’s life and that of the people around them. The behaviour team works very closely with other members of the therapy team to ensure a holistic approach for all students.
What our behaviour support looks like:
Behaviour support aims to provide a person-centred approach to people with a learning disability who may be at risk of displaying challenging behaviours.
Provides support based on inclusion, choice, participation and equality of opportunity
What are the key principles?
The support we provide seeks to understand the reasons for behaviour so that unmet needs can be met
Considers the person as a whole — their life history, physical health and emotional needs
It's proactive and preventative, focusing on the teaching of new skills to replace behaviours that challenge
Combines perspectives from families, staff at school and different professionals — a holistic approach.
What is the aim of behaviour support at Priory School?
To do comprehensive assessments of behaviour, to try to develop a clear understanding of why the behaviour is occurring. Assessments and observations are done in conjunction with class team, family and other professionals.
Following assessment to develop a behaviour support plan for the student that has a good contextual fit with environment at school and with needs of the student.
Ensure the behaviour support plan focuses on building new skills to replace the behaviour that is challenging.
Ensure the behaviour support plan focuses on reducing behaviour using proactive strategies rather than relying on reactive strategies.
To educate class teams and families around agreed behaviour support strategies.
The behaviour and learning practitioners will work closely with class teams, families and other agencies involved with individual students.
Complementary therapy
What is complementary therapy at Priory School?
Complementary Therapy supports each person through the taking of a medical and social case history. The Complementary Therapist provides a personal therapy session tailored on these results and based on the therapist’s evaluations and observations.
Our skin is the first thing that comes into ‘physical’ contact with the outside world. It can detect much more than just when we are cold or hot. It senses touch in extremely important ways and research shows us that positive ‘touch’ has a huge impact on our wellbeing by releasing oxytocin. This hormone is known for its health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure, decreasing stress related hormones or even increasing pain tolerance.
During therapy sessions, massage strokes and gentle pressure moves are used on the body to enhance physical and emotional wellbeing. Essential oils are also used, each having its own therapeutic benefit as well as exploring relaxation techniques. Students experience these sessions in a safe quiet environment, allowing them to build a strong relationship with the therapist whilst providing them with the confidence in being able to make choices about their own wellbeing. This contributes towards helping the student to fully engage in learning opportunities and experience positive social interactions outside the therapy sessions.
Music therapy
What is music therapy?
Music therapy is the use of music as a medium to help people with their social, emotional and physical wellbeing. In music therapy, music therapists draw upon the innate qualities of music to support people of all ages and abilities and at all stages of life; from helping new born babies develop healthy bonds with their parents, to offering vital, sensitive and compassionate palliative care at the end of life.
Everyone has the ability to respond to music, and music therapy uses this connection to facilitate positive changes in emotional wellbeing and communication through the engagement in live musical interaction between client and therapist. It can help develop and facilitate communication skills, improve self-confidence and independence, enhance self-awareness and awareness of others, improve concentration and attention skills. In children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, using music in a therapeutic way enables children to create their own unique musical language in which to explore and connect with the world and express themselves.