The Speech and Language Hub

At Peters Hill Primary School, we understand that confident communication is the foundation for learning, friendship, and self-belief. For some children, developing speech, language and communication skills takes a little extra time, structure and support, and that is exactly what our Speech and Language Hub is here to provide.

Our Hub is a dedicated, in-house space, staffed by Miss Baker, our trained Speech, Language and Communication Lead, who works closely with our SENCO to ensure every child receives the right support, at the right time, in the right way.

Unlike a corner of a classroom or a shared resource area, our Speech and Language Hub is a purpose-designed space within school, free from distraction, where children feel safe, settled and ready to engage. Having a consistent, familiar environment helps children build confidence quickly, they know where they aree going, who they are seeing, and what to expect.

Miss Baker leads all provision within the Hub. She has received specialist training in supporting children's speech, language and communication development, and she works under the strategic guidance of our SENCO, ensuring that support is carefully matched to each child's individual needs and is aligned with their wider SEND provision.

We use WellComm, a widely respected and evidence-based speech and language toolkit, to accurately assess each child's communication profile. This allows us to pinpoint exactly where a child needs support, whether that is understanding spoken language, building vocabulary, forming sentences, telling stories, or communicating confidently with peers and adults.

No two children's needs are the same, so no two intervention plans look identical. Following WellComm assessment, Miss Baker designs a bespoke support plan that may include:

• Building understanding — helping children follow instructions, understand questions, and process spoken language
• Developing expressive language — supporting children to form clear sentences, extend vocabulary, and share ideas confidently
• Strengthening social communication — helping children take turns in conversation, understand others' perspectives, and build friendships
• Pre-teaching key vocabulary — preparing children for upcoming classroom topics so they can access learning alongside their peers with confidence

Sessions are delivered through engaging, carefully sequenced activities, often 1:1 or in small groups, with high frequency and consistency shown to have the greatest impact on progress.

The Hub does not operate in isolation. Miss Baker works in close partnership with:

• Our SENCO, to ensure provision aligns with each child's SEND Support Plan or EHCP outcomes
• Class teachers, to share strategies and vocabulary that support children's progress back in the classroom
• External Speech and Language Therapy services, where a child is open to that provision, ensuring school-based support complements professional clinical guidance
• Parents and carers, who are kept informed of their child's progress and given practical ideas to support communication at home

Every child's progress is carefully tracked using WellComm reassessment, alongside regular review meetings. This ensures support remains responsive, children move in and out of the Hub's provision based on need, not on a fixed timetable, so that resources are always matched to where they'll make the biggest difference.

At Peters Hill Primary School, we believe that every child deserves to be heard, understood, and given a voice. Our Speech and Language Hub exists to make that belief a reality, helping children find the words, the confidence, and the connection they need to thrive, both in and beyond the classroom.