ASAP presents Djanogly Learning Trust's SALT Programme

PAG and ASAP are thrilled to announce the next project welcomed into the ASAP roster – Djanogly Learning Trust’s SALT Programme.

With ten mainstream academies across Nottingham and Derbyshire, Djanogly Learning Trust strives to provide every child with an education that gives them the best opportunity to succeed and prosper. The Trust is defined by the way it combines professional expertise with genuine care, balancing challenge with compassion so that its schools and pupils can aim high, work hard, and grow with resilience and kindness.  

Via its SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) Programme, and through a designated SALT therapist, Djanogly Learning Trust offers SALT intervention using the Three Tier Approach model (developed by Jean Gross, CBE), providing communication support at a universal, targeted, and specialist level of intervention. This endorses the approach that supporting a student’s speech, language and communication need (SLCN) is everyone’s responsibility.

The SALT therapist takes a lead role in working collaboratively with the SENCo(s), lead SALT teaching assistant, head of department(s), and the wider staff team. This ensures staff are supported and systems are developed consistently across the Trust.

The model is dependent on need, so while some students may be accessing all three tiers at the same time, others may only be accessing one or two. This allows for a bespoke, holistic, and crucially, student-centric approach in provision of learning and speech therapy.

Specialist Level Input

Delivered directly by the SALT therapist using specialist knowledge to fully assess and address students’ speech, language, and communication needs.

Direct work may include:

• Formal and informal assessment

• Reviewing communication needs and targets

• 1:1, paired, or group therapy

• Joint parent/student consultations

Indirect work may include:

• Writing targets, profiles, or reports

• Liaising with professionals (e.g. EHCP/planning meetings)

• Bespoke staff training and parent consultations

• Creating communication tools

• Providing recommendations and specialist advice

Targeted Level Input

Delivered by teaching staff with SALT therapist oversight, often for students on the SALT caseload or identified through screening.

Examples:

• Staff embedding SALT targets into daily learning (e.g. practising “first/last” in lining up)

• 1:1, group, or whole-class interventions run by staff, Lead SALT TA, or other TAs

• Targeted input for students identified via WELLCOMM screening (F1, F2, Y1, each term)

• WELLCOMM interventions planned from screening data, delivered 1:1, in groups, or class-wide

• SALT therapist may observe targeted sessions and advise staff

Universal Level Input

Applies to all pupils, ensuring communication-friendly classrooms and best-practice approaches.

Key features:

• All children benefit, regardless of need or delay

• SALT therapist audits environments to ensure strategies are in place and specialist recommendations followed

• All staff receive bespoke SALT training, embedding communication strategies across all classrooms

Claire Al-Hussaini, Director of SEND and Safeguarding at Djanogly Learning Trust, said:

"The Speech and Language Therapy Programme has had a very positive impact on our pupils.  We are delighted that ASAP will be exploring that further though an evaluation project.

One of our schools that has strongly benefited from the programme is Djanogly Strelley Academy. Children communicate more confidently, learn more effectively, and support one another. Staff work more collaboratively and teach more inclusively . Families feel more connected to the school.

When you put children's fundamental needs at the centre of everything you do and commit wholeheartedly to helping every child succeed, the benefits ripple out in multiple ways.”

PAG will now work in partnership with Djanogly to support and amplify the SALT Programme for sustainable scaling.