SALSA Outreach Language Intervention Team – Service Specification 2025-2026 (Academies/Independent schools)

Introduction

The Language Intervention Team (SALSA Outreach) has been working in Southampton City Schools for over 20 years. We currently work with schools to identify and support children and young people with speech language and communication needs. Our service is consistently rated as excellent by the schools we support. We have close links with NHS SLT colleagues.

Did you know:

• Speech, Language and Communication needs continue to be the primary need identified for pupils with SEN support
  (Special Educational Needs in England, Academic Report 2021-2022)
  
  
• 1 in 14 children have Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affecting their social and emotional well-being as well as success at school and work. DLD is a hidden disability. It affects people around the world no matter the language spoken.
  (RADLD.org 2022)
  
  This means that in every class there are 2-3 children who have Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and will have require additional support to achieve their full potential.
  
  
• 1.7 million children in the UK are struggling with talking and understanding words
• As many as 50% of children in some areas of social disadvantage start school without the language they need for learning.
• In areas of social disadvantage children and young people are more than twice as likely to have SLCN (this study found that the likelihood of being identified as having SLCN is 2.3 times greater for children eligible for free school meals and living in areas of deprivation).
  (Speech and Language UK 2022)

1. The Language Intervention Team (SALSA Outreach) consists of experienced and specifically trained Speech & Language Schools Assistants (SALSAs) employed by Southampton City Council in the Education and Learning Team who are supervised by a Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (SALT). The SALT is seconded from Solent NHS Trust to work within the Local Authority.
2. The SALSA Outreach team offers screening/assessment, interventions and staff training to maximise the progress of children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), and to support schools in drawing out the full potential of their students’ abilities.
3. We recognise the growing need to support core educational concerns including behaviour and literacy, and have developed our services to acknowledge the impact of SLCN within the classroom. Programmes and interventions specifically target language for learning, helping to bridge the gap between verbal and written skills.

Service options

The Language Intervention Team (SALSA Outreach) delivers purchased services as follows:

1. Purchased Services
   1. Our service works with schools to support any children who have been identified as having speech language and communication needs. These children may be on SEN support.
   2. Services can be purchased by individual schools, or by clusters of schools. Purchased time includes direct work in the school, planning and preparation time, liaison with parents, staff and other agencies, record completion and related administration and travel time.
   3. In order to meet the Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) of pupils, schools may purchase a number of half/whole days for delivering speech and language interventions.
   4. All interventions are based on current best practice in the field of Speech and Language Therapy and are known to be effective in accelerating the progress of identified children who have SLCN.
   5. Interventions offered include the SALSA working with children who have a speech and language difficulties. These children may also be known to the local NHS Speech and Language Therapy Service, and in such cases SALSA intervention will be carried out under the guidance of the NHS Therapist.
   6. All intervention packages include supervision of the SALSA by the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.
   7. The service options are designed to provide a comprehensive and effective model of service delivery. Should you have a specific requirement that is not covered in the options listed below, please contact the Language Intervention Team to discuss this.
   8. When pupils are not available to participate due to school closures, including adverse weather conditions, exams and INSET days, pre-arranged sessions will be counted unless the school give SALSA notice of need to change.
   9. If a school is not allowing external visitors due to a pandemic, sessions can be delivered virtually.
2. If SALSA is not able to visit the school due to pandemic and need to self-isolate, sessions can be delivered virtually as long as SALSA is well.
   1. SALSA Outreach – Purchased Service Options
      Weekly whole day SALSA package (33 per financial year/11 per term)
      Weekly half-day SALSA package (33 per financial year/11 per term)
      Fortnightly half-day SALSA package (18 per financial year/6 per term)
      Ad-hoc SALSA sessions resource base / workshops – annual subscription
      Bespoke training (on request)

Pricing

Weekly Whole Day SALSA Package

(33 per financial year/11 per term) – £9580

Resource base included.

Weekly Half-Day SALSA Package

(33 per financial year/11 per term) – £5815

Package with Resource base at discounted price (optional extra) – £6145

Fortnightly Half-Day SALSA Package

(18 per financial year/6 per term) – £3100

Package with Resource base at discounted price (optional extra) – £3435

Ad-Hoc SALSA Day Rate

Whole day visit including administration – £615

Ad-Hoc SALSA Half-day Rate

Half-day visit including administration – £390

Resource Base/Workshops

If buying in a weekly whole day package – Free

If buying in one of the half-day packages – £330

Standalone Annual Subscription – £565

Bespoke Training (Two SALSAs)

£240 (per hour)

Schools purchase the SALSA service via the Service Level Agreement.

Additional SALSA time can also be arranged throughout the year (see SALSA Service Additional work form)

1. Terms and Conditions
   
   When a school signs the SLA they are agreeing to pay for the service for 1 year. Previous financial agreements are not valid. If after signing the SLA agreement a school would like to cancel the service part-way through the year, written notice of one term is required by the head teacher. The school must pay for sessions completed.

Service contacts and performance review

The contact for the service is:

Helen O’Donovan
Lead SALSA
Language Intervention Team
Start Point Sholing
Wood Close
Southampton
SO19 0SG
Tel: 07780 077747
Email: helen.o'donovan@southampton.gov.uk

1. The SALSA will meet with school staff at least once annually to formally review the activities
   undertaken, children seen and the progress of those children against agreed targets.
   Schools are regularly asked for their feedback and the service is improved/developed based
   on responses received
2. Supervision and CPD
   All charges for SALSA time include the supervision and input, as required, of the Specialist
   Speech and Language Therapist (SLT). SALSAs receive regular clinical training and individual
   clinical and professional supervision from the Specialist SLT. They are able to access
   additional joint assessments and second opinions from the Specialist SLT at their request.
   SALSAs attend professional development courses in relation to specific areas of interest as
   appropriate, and access continuous peer supervision.
3. In the event of a staff member reporting in sick, we shall endeavor to cover or rearrange
   the visit.
4. Any queries, concerns or complaints about the overall operation of the Service should be
   addressed to:
   Helen O’Donovan
   Lead SALSA
   Language Intervention Team
   Start Point Sholing
   Wood Close
   Southampton
   SO19 0SG
   Tel: 07780 077747
   Email: helen.o'donovan@southampton.gov.uk