Creating the Perfect Space for Speech and Language Therapy in Schools

Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) supports children with communication challenges, helping them to develop the skills they need to thrive in nursery, school and beyond. School is a great place to provide early intervention and ongoing support for these children, however providing effective SALT support within a busy school environment can be challenging due to noise, space constraints, and lack of dedicated areas. A log cabin or outdoor classroom can be the ideal solution—providing a quiet, focused, and supportive environment where children receive the help they need to develop their communication skills. Let's discuss this further!

SALT support (speech and language therapy)

What is SALT support?

Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) is an intervention delivered by Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) to help children who experience challenges with communication and/or feeding and swallowing. These children may have difficulty using clear speech, interacting with people or eating and drinking for example. 

Some children may struggle with:

• Understanding instructions and tasks
• Expressing their thoughts and needs
• Asking for help
• Engaging in conversations with peers
• Adapting to transitions between activities

During SALT, SLTs will collaborate with parents/carers and practitioners working with the children too. Essentially, speech and language therapists assess each child’s needs and create personalised treatment plans to help them develop their communication skills. While SALT support is available in hospitals and clinics, it's often most effective when delivered within a familiar pre-school or school environment, ensuring that children receive consistent and integrated support.

The growing need for school-based or nursery-based support

Right now, more than 10% of children and young people have long-term speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN), making school-based support essential. Without intervention, these challenges can impact academic performance, social interactions, and emotional wellbeing. However, many schools struggle to deliver effective speech and language support and meet capacity demands due to a lack of adequate space, as well as disruption throughout the main build. Without a quiet and distraction-free space, speech and language interventions may suffer. But don't worry! A purpose-built log cabin or outdoor classroom can solve these challenges by creating a calm, safe, and dedicated area for therapy. Providing effective school-based or nursery-based communication support is crucial to ensuring these students receive the help they need to thrive academically and socially.

Why schools need a dedicated SALT space

1. Reduced background noise

A quiet, distraction-free environment is essential for effective communication therapy. Traditional classrooms can be noisy and overstimulating, making it difficult for students to concentrate and engage fully in therapy sessions.

2. Safe and comfortable environment

A purpose-built cabin creates a calming and secure atmosphere where students feel at ease expressing themselves. This is especially beneficial for children who may experience anxiety or frustration related to communication difficulties. A dedicated space helps build their confidence and encourages better engagement in therapy.

3. Flexibility for different levels of support:

• • Whole school (universal) – Promote speech and language-friendly teaching strategies school-wide, making communication support accessible to all students.
  • Class and group (targeted) – Use the space to run targeted intervention sessions for groups of students who need additional support.
  • Individual (specialist) – Provide 1:1 sessions with an onsite Speech and Language Therapist for children requiring intensive intervention.

4. Increased capacity to support more students 

Many schools face high caseloads of students requiring SALT support. Investing in an additional dedicated space will increases the school’s ability to provide the necessary services so that more children can receive the help they need, reducing waiting times and ensuring that no child is left behind due to a lack of available support.

5. Onsite speech and language therapy 

Having a dedicated space for an onsite therapist ensures that students receive consistent and structured support without the logistical challenges of external referrals or scheduling conflicts.

What are the benefits of a purpose-built Log Cabin or Outdoor Classroom for SALT?

There are so many benefits of facilitating speech and language therapy sessions in schools with a log cabin or outdoor classroom! At Cabins for Schools, our bespoke buildings are designed to be multifunctional. Therefore, your log cabin or outdoor classroom can be used for speech therapy sessions, small group interventions, or training staff in communication-friendly teaching strategies. The space can then be used for other sessions, such as music tuition or SEN support when not being used for SALT. Secondly, purpose-built classrooms and log cabins encourage a supportive atmosphere. Providing a dedicated, welcoming environment specially designed to be a safe space for your pupils will encourage confidence and engagement, so they are able to get the most out of their sessions. Finally, our buildings offer the many benefits of outdoor learning! Providing a connection to nature during therapy sessions will help pupils to feel calmer and more receptive to therapy.

How schools and other educational settings can fund a SALT cabin

Investing in a dedicated SALT space may seem like a significant expense, but schools have various funding options available, including:

• SENIF (Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund): Schools can apply for funding to support children with speech and language needs.
• Local authority grants and SEND funding
• PTA fundraising initiatives
• Government schemes for school infrastructure improvements

We update our funding advice page regularly, so be sure to stay in the loop or speak to a member of our team for further support! We're here to support your funding application or grant bid with a free quote and design drawings, making the process that one step easier with Cabins for Schools.  

Investing in a log cabin or outdoor classroom for Speech and Language Therapy ensures that schools can offer high-quality, uninterrupted support to students with communication needs. By creating a dedicated space for SALT services, schools can provide a more inclusive learning environment and provide children with the support they deserve and need. If your school is looking to improve its speech and language support provision, a purpose-built cabin could be the perfect solution. Get in touch to learn more about how a bespoke space can meet your school’s needs!