What is Speech and Language Therapy?

A Speech and Language Therapist works alongside parents, school staff, and a range of health care professionals to support your child’s communication. This is likely to involve supporting your child in one of the following areas:

• Attention and listening

• Interaction and play skills

• Understanding and use of language

•   Speech sounds (pronunciation of sounds)

•  Some of these difficulties may be secondary to hearing or learning difficulties.

Did you know?

 Speech, language, and communication needs are the most common type of special educational need in 4–11-year-old children.

Communication is an important skill and is something that we use in all aspect of our lives. When developing language and communication skills, children learn to understand and talk about their needs, experiences, ideas, and feelings. Speech, language, and communication skills lay the foundations of literacy skills and so I will work alongside school staff to support your child both inside and outside of the classroom.

What to expect?

•  Your child’s school will ask me to see your child if they have concerns about their speech, language and/or communication.

• As part of this process, you will be given a ‘Consent form’. Please read this form and return it to your child’s class teacher or the school SENCo, as soon as possible. The consent form will need to be signed and returned to school before I see your child.

• You have the right to withdraw this consent, at any point in your child’s care. You should contact school for more information about this.

• When possible, I will try to contact you by phone so that we can discuss your child’s speech, language, and communication before I see them. I may also ask questions about their medical history and other professionals currently involved in their care.

  What happens when your child has been referred?

Your child will be seen for an initial assessment, which may include:

• direct formal and informal assessment

• observation of your child in the classroom or playground

• discussion with school staff

•   analysis of reports from other professionals.

What happens after the assessment?

• After the initial assessment, I will share observations and assessment findings with you and school. I will also outline next steps.

The outcome of the assessment will indicate what your child will benefit from next. Further support may include:
- advice for school
- a programme of activities
 - further discussion with other professionals
 - specialist intervention

If no speech, language, or communication needs are identified, your child may be discharged from this service.

Parent contact

• You will be contacted by telephone and/or email, using the contact details that you have given to school.

• After the assessment and throughout your child’s care, information will be explained verbally over telephone or shared electronically in a written summary report.

  Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with myself or school if you have any questions at all.