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SILSA Program

From September 2024 we will be running the SILSA program in Devon! 

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Read the information below to find out more and contact us directly to arrange a telephone call or to book onto the next training. 

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What is a SILSA?

A SILSA is a speech, interaction and language support assistant. They are generally specially trained Teaching Assistants (TA) or Teachers who can support children with speech, language and communication needs within their school environment. They also support Speech and Language Therapists and SENCO's.

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A SILSA has protected time every week to support children within their school with a variety of tasks or activities. Examples of these could include:

  • Running language interventions - groups and individuals

  • Running speech sound interventions - groups and individuals

  • Running universal and targeted programmes

  • Carrying out specialist interventions from a speech and language therapist

  • Carry out screening assessments and score those in order to determine where children who are currently known to speech and language therapy sit in order to feedback to the SENCo/Speech and Language Therapist, or to gather evidence to make a referral. 

  • Support the school SENCo with administrative tasks related to speech language and communication needs. 

  • Support the Speech and Language Therapist with updating programmes.

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Watch this video to find out more from the SILSA Team in Hampshire

who introduced this amazing program:​

Teacher

What training does a SILSA require?

In the first year of becoming a SILSA they have to complete some training. All training will be provided by Charlotte Hartwell, or associates of Treetops Speech & Language Therapy.

 

This training includes:

  • ELKLAN 5-11 Course (or a refresher if they have completed it previously and have accreditation)

    • 3 day course​ 

  • Additional SILSA Training 

    • 3 day course​ 

  • Group Study Day​

  • Group Support Meetings

  • 1:1 support from a speech therapist for 1 hour once a half term in the summer term.

Meeting

What does SILSA Cost?

Year 1:

In the first year of SILSA you require intensive training which costs £999

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This fee also includes a whole school training for 45 minutes which can be used at inset days or staff meetings to support your whole setting. 

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Year 2 onwards:

Once a SILSA is trained they can access on-going support, training and CPD. There is a tiered payment system which you can choose from:

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Tier 1: £349                                         Tier 2: £429                                             Tier 3: £599

         Group support Meeting                   Group support Meeting                         Group support meeting

         Access to SILSA Resources               Access to SILSA Resources                    Access to SISLA Resources

         Annual Study Day                              Annual Study Day                                    Annual Study Day

         Whole School Training                      Whole School Training                            Whole School Training

                                                                     1:1 support termly                                    1:1 Support for half termly

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Please note these prices are for the academic year 2024-2025 and are subject to change and increase. The website will be updated when prices for 2025-2026 are available. 

Stacks of Coins

Why choose SILSA?

The SILSA program has gotten brilliant feedback from those who have completed it. The heart of the program is developing the skills of staff who are already in the school and enhance the provision you are offering. Through the training that the SILSA’s undergo they develop knowledge and confidence in screening and interpreting those screening assessments, supporting children with speech, language and communication needs as well as other staff within your school environment.

 

We aim to enhance the provisions you already have and extend them by having a staff member with detailed knowledge about speech, language and communication needs and can support with incorporating the skills/resources you already have and enhancing the provision you are offering. For further information see: https://www.silsatraining.org.uk/silsa-programme/.

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SILSA also costs the same as some, highly purchased speech and language screening programmes. These programmes can often give skewed results, and are based on visual information which often supports children with speech, language and communication needs. By switching from these types of programmes to SILSA you will have an individualised approach to screening in your school, rather than replying on a generic programme. Children who then need on-going specialist support from a speech therapist will have more detailed analysis to work on as most of the assessment and observation has been completed leaving them more time to focus on working directly with children or assessing those with higher levels of need. 

Cute Girl

What others who have completed SILSA have said:

SILSA Website

“Very interesting course, good to learn new skills that can be used in school”

SILSA Website

“A valuable resource for schools and the children that will benefit”

SILSA Website

“Informative and practical useful hands on strategies for in school environments”

SILSA Webste

“Interesting, skill enhancing, applicable, beneficial”

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