Derbyshire Language Scheme

The Derbyshire Language Scheme has been devised by Mark Masidlover, an Educational Psychologist from Derbyshire Education Authority. It involves screening children through a test to ascertain their language comprehension and devising an individual language plan to improve their language development. All practitioners are trained to use the materials. At our Centre the following takes place:

• on entry every child goes through a rapid screen test to assess comprehension. It is the amount the child understands that is assessed, rather than their ability to speak
• once the need of each child has been established, a program of work is devised
• in some cases a referral to the speech therapist is required, and the Language Development Worker is closely associated with the scheme of work which has been devised
• the children are seen on an individual level as well as within a group of four (maximum). One session a week is specifically for outings, which promotes one to one language development as well as enhancing the experiences of each child. These trips give the Language Development Worker the opportunity to get to know the children so that a program is created to meet individual needs in order that each child may reach their potential
• parents are involved in all aspects of this program and planned meetings are arranged every three months, yet impromptu meetings also occur
• at 4 years of age each child is re-tested to measure improvement
• a graphical representation is made of the rapid screen tests, which gives a pictorial view of how children progress within the Centre.