Junior Language Link
Junior Language Link is an award-winning online package used to identify and support children with mild to moderate learning and communication needs and those new to English in Years 3 – 6. It combines a standardised assessment, planned interventions, resources and measured outcomes. Empowering schools to take control of their own SLCN, Junior Language Link improves children’s understanding to boost their literacy skills, enabling them to access the curriculum. It maximises time, budget and specialist provision. The assessment will also identify any children who may have more severe language needs, such as Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), so that these children can be considered for further investigations and diagnostic assessment with your local Speech and Language Therapy team. Suitable for children aged 7 to 11 years (Years 3 – 6), it focuses on vital higher-level language skills such as making inferences, complex grammar and figurative language.
The Language Link packages are used in over 3500 schools. Each year over 100,000 assessments are completed and over 8500 intervention groups are run.
Watch the video to find out why over 3,500 schools use our packages.
Identification
The online, standardised assessment is fun, quick and easy to administer. Usually adult led, older children can work independently through the assessment. It is fully audio supported so no demand is placed on literacy ability. It looks at key areas of understanding of language for the classroom.
It is used universally in year 3 or 4 and then to track identified children. Instant results identify where support is needed and recommend appropriate class and small group interventions. If a child needs specialist support this is clearly highlighted to help you make the most of your external agency support.
Read the technical report here
Intervention
Junior Language Link provides planned and resourced interventions for a graduated approach. Recommended high quality teaching strategies and classroom resources allow the teacher to support SLCN universally. Our planned and fully resourced language groups allow support staff to provide targeted interventions and for children who need a little bit extra our supplementary teaching plans offer intensive focused individual support.
In-Package Training
A popular feature of both our Language Link packages is the video walk through. This takes staff though each package step by step. The regular webinar training sessions feature our Speech and Language Therapy team and cover different aspects of use of the package allowing staff to ask the experts questions.
SpeechLink are currently working on their Certified Language Link practitioner training. This extended course will cover background information on supporting SLCN as well as comprehensive training in all aspects of the Language Link packages.
Measuring Progress
Junior Language Link enables you to track impact with a powerful set of Progress Measures. The Teacher Engagement Ratings help teachers set targets for improvement across key classroom skills including communication, participation, self-regulation, active involvement and social confidence. The Parent and Pupil Views allows you to form a holistic view of the child to track changes across skills that matter to parents as well as the children themselves.
The flexible dynamic reports provide the information you need at the touch of a button. Reports and provision maps show in-school improvement for each child, class, year group and even the whole school. While preparing for an inspection, one school commented recently ‘Language Link provided, at the touch of a button, the information the Learning and Support Teacher didn’t even know she needed!’
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