Answers to our most common questions are below. To view the answer, click on the question. To hide the answer, simply click on the same question again. If you have any further enquiries, feel free to Contact Us.
How many schools does ESP&TS currently service?
Does ESP&TS offer individual therapy?
Does ESP&TS offer parent pay approaches?
How are parents involved in the program?
Parents are notified in writing and via phone calls if there are specific concerns with their child. Permission is obtained for all screening, assessment or individual therapy. Parents meetings are held following assessments to advise parents of:
- Outcomes of assessments
- recommendations
- Referral sources (eg Therapy, Paediatric, Vision and Hearing)
- Government subsidies that may be available such as the Medicare rebate and Autism package
Wherever possible parent feedback sessions are also attended by a member of the schools learning support team or Class teacher.
Schools may also decide to involve parents in regular sessions as volunteers to the program.
Is the program limited to mainstream classes?
No, ESP&TS offers support programs to:
- Preschools
- Mainstream Infants and Primary classes
- Special classes (IO, IM, Autistic satellite classes etc) as well as Special schools
- ESP&TS offers services to Government, Independent and Catholic school systems
If our school is interested in this program what do we do?
Read the website information.
Sue will then make a time to come and visit your school to speak about the numerous options offered through our program with your Executive, LST and or staff.
Can we see the program in action?
We firmly believe that seeing another schools program in action and speaking with the staff is the best independent method of evaluating our service and determining whether it is suitable for your school.
Is it possible to get reference checks from other Principals?
What options are there for service delivery in our school?
- Assessments and screening blocks
- Referrals and liaison with outside agencies
- Individual therapy
- Group and whole class approaches
- Teacher centred approaches
- Tutor training programs
- Workshops for parents, teachers, and tutors
- Demonstration lessons
- Programming and planning with teachers
- resources, web spaces and technology support
- combinations of the above
What sorts of difficulties do you support and can you assist our staff in identifying the target students?
Some students demonstrate “obvious” speech and or language difficulties for example:
- A history of poor speech or language development in any language
- Unclear or difficult to understand speech
- Difficulty following instructions
- Poor comprehension of spoken or written information
- Failure to acquire English at same rate as similar peers
- Difficulty expressing ideas due to limited vocabulary, poor syntax, confusion of sequences etc
- Weak phonemic awareness
- Poor handwriting
- Sensory seeking behaviour
- Poor fine and gross motor skills
In additional to these more “obvious” areas teachers are advised to consider at possible risk:
- Any student with a physical, intellectual or emotional difficulty
- Any student who is failing to learn at the same rate as their peers,
- Any student who is exhibiting behavioural and social skills difficulties
- Any student who has literacy needs
As these students may have potential underlying oral language difficulties requiring assessment and intervention.
However one of the main strengths of the ESP&TS programs are that they support all students including those with well developed skills. In particular, strong growth is seen most often in those students who would be described as “impoverished” in development of either motor or language skills. This means that they do not have any specific disorder but are not performing at the expected level. ESP&TS programs provide the “enrichment” that allows this group to develop to their full potential.
Are the staff at ESP&TS familiar with working with students and parents of language backgrounds other than English?
What resources are needed?
All ESP&TS made materials remain copyright to Sue Wilks and can only be used within schools serviced by the company.
What is meant by a student unit placement?
There are currently more schools seeking student practicums than there are available students. Student practicums tend to book out 12 months in advance.
All discussion regarding student practicums must be directed to the Practice Manager Sue Wilks for Speech Pathology and to Katrina Davies for Occupational Therapy.