Language Support - Communication Interaction Team

We support children and young people aged four to 19 years with language and communication needs.

We can provide:

• advice, support and training to your child's school
• assessment of your child's needs within their school setting
• strategies and resources
• support to help your child's school cater for your child's needs
• support with transition at all key stages

We cannot provide support if:

• speech (clarity/articulation) is the main concern; please seek advice from a Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
• receptive and expressive language skills are within average ranges, as identified by a Speech and Language Therapist
• primary needs are literacy

How to request support

To access our services you'll need to make a referral through the Gateway and contact your school's SEN Co-Coordinator (SENCO) to discuss a referral.

Email gateway@plymouth.gov.uk, call 01752 668000 or fill in both forms below.

Request for involvement form (Word doc) [113KB]

Speech and Language Communication Needs Checklist (Word doc) [169KB]

Return completed forms to The Gateway, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ.

We might not accept your request if there's insufficient evidence of your child's language needs.

Language resources

Parents and carers

• Transition from early years to school [PDF, 296KB]
• Transition from primary school to secondary school [PDF, 298KB]

Professionals and settings

• Graduated Approach (PDF) [140KB]
• Developmental Language Disorder (PDF) [131KB]
• Activities to develop attention on and listening skills [PDF, 517KB]
• Colourful semantics early years ideas [PDF, 340KB]
• Colourful semantics secondary some ideas [PDF, 733KB]
• Curriculum vocabulary [PDF, 623KB]
• Speech, language and communication advice [PDF, 102KB]
• Receptive language [PDF, 260KB]
• Communication [PDF, 486KB]
• Expressive language [PDF, 949KB]
• The Communication Trust Catalogue [PDF, 3MB]
• Round Robin [PDF, 91KB]
• SLCN Specialist [PDF, 208KB]
• SLCN Targeted [PDF, 186KB]
• SLCN Universal [PDF, 152KB]

Useful websites

• I CAN
• Raise Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder
• Black Sheep Press
• ESU (oracy network)
• GOV.UK: Better communication research programme
• Lucid
• Sounds for literacy (cued articulation, Jane Passy)
• Stickman communications (communicating about disability with style/humour
• Talking Point
• You Tube: RALLI campaign