Burton Speech and Language Centre (SLC)
About us
Burton Speech and Language Centre (SLC) is a twenty-place specialist provision for children from Reception to Y4 who have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Our children are organised into two pastoral classes, but access flexible groupings throughout the day. We offer part-time places for children who need specialist intervention for speech and language difficulties. Our experienced team includes specialist teachers and teaching assistants, as well as Speech and Language Therapists two days per week. This gives us a higher staffing ratio than a mainstream classroom could offer.
Our setting is communication-friendly, where speech provision trumps everything. We have access to outdoor spaces, which we share with Samuel Allsopp Primary and Nursery School. Children join us at Burton SLC 3 days a week from their mainstream setting and attend their home school for the other two days. We work closely with home schools to offer a bespoke service to meet each child’s individual needs.
Our Curriculum Offer and Learning Environment
Our curriculum maximises specific speech and language learning experiences and group interventions, which are differentiated according to need. Our aim is to equip our children with transferable skills and strategies to be used in other settings. These include:
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Word Aware
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Bag of Tricks
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Lego Therapy
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Sequencing and Narrative
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Listen and Make
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Sing and Sign (Makaton)
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Blanks Levels of Questioning
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Categories and grouping
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Memory Magic
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Sensory Circuits
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Colourful Semantics
Teaching and Learning staff have SALT targets displayed in the classrooms, and we have current Care Aims for all children which are discussed termly. Some of the SALT targets are addressed by our core approaches above within our universal provision. Our learning environment supports the strategies and approaches listed above:
We are always happy to welcome other professionals and parents to observe our practice and to attend skill shares, social events and workshops. We are proud to share some of the feedback gained below:
"Thank you for your warm welcome today! Your class are delightful. We have taken so much from the morning and are already planning how we can further support (pupil) in school. Many thanks again."
"Thank you so much for having us, it was wonderful and really, really valuable. It's given me lots of inspiration not just for supporting (pupil), but also on how we can use colourful semantics more across the school every day, not just as a scaffold for supporting SEND children with writing, which is how it is mostly used currently! Thanks so much."
"I just wanted to take the time to thank you for inviting me to your lovely school! It was great to see you in action with your wonderful class! I've pinched lots of ideas so a big thank you!"
"I visited the speech and language centre, and it was so interesting to see new techniques. Lovely and super welcoming staff!"
"I can’t thank you enough for sharing such wonderful practice and for being so giving with your time. Such a worthwhile visit – thank you!"
"Absolutely fantastic! Such a lovely school. The children must have the best time here. Thank you so much for having us!"
"Thank you for such a warm welcome! What an amazing place. The children and staff were fantastic. Thank you."
How to apply for a placement with us
Entry is via a specialist termly panel. Children will already have an NHS Speech Therapist and will have had at least one cycle of therapy as well as two cycles of APDR at school. For full details, please see our protocol.
The date for the Summer intake panel is February 2026. Applications for this panel need to be submitted to the SLC admissions email address by 12pm on Wednesday 18th February 2026 at the latest.
If you think a child may benefit from a place with us, please speak to the child’s Speech and Language Therapist in the first instance.
For further information, please contact us on senco@samuelallsopp.staffs.sch.uk
Admission Applications can be made via slcadmissions@staffordshire.gov.uk
If you have concerns about a child's speech and language development, here are useful links for parents and professionals.
Parents - Stoke Speaks Out - Speech and Language Therapy
Professionals - Stoke Speaks Out
The professional link has a link to the SALT referral form.