Speech & Language Therapy

Our team of speech and language therapists screen, assess, identify and provide support through speech and language therapy for all areas of communication including:

• Speech delays and disorders including articulation, phonology and motor speech disorders.
• Language delays and disorders including expression and comprehension
• Fluency disorders including stammering
• Voice and resonance disorders including pitch, quality and loudness of voice
• Cognitive-communicative disorders including social communication skills, reasoning, problem-solving and executive functions.

Our play-based approach to speech and language therapy is tailored to fit your child’s needs and fosters a fun, exciting and supportive environment where your child’s ability to communicate can blossom. We work closely with parents, teachers and other professionals to ensure a collaborative service delivery wherever possible.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that enables people to participate as fully and as independently as possible in activities of daily living. A paediatric occupational therapist helps children develop the underlying skills necessary for learning and performing functional tasks in the areas of self-care, school and play/leisure. These three areas are seen as the child’s main occupation. With an expert understanding of child development, anatomy, physiology and paediatric conditions, our paediatric occupational therapists assesses and analyses why a child may be struggling to carry out specific tasks and elaborates a treatment plan to address the child’s specific needs. Common difficulties or conditions treated by our occupational therapy team include: 

• Gross motor skills
• Fine motor skills
• Handwriting
• Visual perceptual Skills
• Self-care skills (e.g. dressing, feeding, toileting)
• Learning disabilities
• Developmental delay
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Sensory processing difficulties or disorder
• Developmental coordination disorder/dyspraxia
• Attention (ADHD)
• Intellectual deficiencies

Our occupational therapists can also provide home environment assessments and recommendations for home and school adaptations. 

What You Can Expect

Therapy Groups

Chatty Tots Group Sessions

Chatty Tots groups are speech and language therapy sessions run at The Children’s Place. The groups support little ones in developing their social communication, language and interaction skills through structured activities, semi-structured games and facilitated free-play. The activities and format of Chatty Tots is designed to mirror many of the situations your child will encounter at nursery or school (e.g. circle time, free play, snack). As your little one progresses through the Chatty Tots group, they will develop more advanced interaction and language skills, and the activities will change to correspond with this.

We run weekly groups during term time when availability allows.

Chatty Tots Holiday Camps

With a similar focus on supporting children in their development as Chatty Tot group sessions, our holiday camps run daily in week increments around the spring and summer holiday periods. Each of our weeks is uniquely themed, and the group will take a dive into the fun and exciting worlds of the chosen themes while utilising the same support as our termly Chatty Tots Early Intervention Programme. We have had epic adventures so far from travelling to the outer reaches of the galaxy to swimming to the depths of the ocean. Check back for more adventures to come!

Therapy Apps

Helpful Resources

Child Development

These websites are great for information on where children typically are in their communication at each age.

Talking Point

For ages 17 and under filled with information on the communication development of each age. Has a great Progress Checker questionnaire to help develop an understanding of your child’s communication.

PBS Parents

Useful breakdown of milestones and age relevant activities for ages 9 and under. A broad spectrum of developmental areas including language.

Speech and Language Developmental Challenges

ASHA

The American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) has practical information on the more common developmental challenges children experience in their communication.

Tutorials For Parents

These are websites that can help guide your interactions with your child through articles, blogs, and video tutorials to help promote communication. These are great for quick tips that can be incorporated into everyday life!

Little Talkers

For ages 3 and under. Sign up for a free profile and gain access to a library of age-specific video tutorials.

Talk To Your Baby

For ages 3 and under. By the National Literacy Trust with downloadable resources and a helpful section on bilingualism.

FAQ

Does my child need to see a speech and language therapist?

There is a normal pattern of development that children go through when learning to communicate. As part of this process, there are mistakes a little one will make that are typical, and these are not a cause for concern and will often disappear as they develop. To find out about what you should expect at different ages and when there may be a need to see a speech and language therapist, click here. If you have any queries, please get in touch and we can discuss your child’s needs.

Why choose private speech and language therapy?

Private and NHS therapists have the same training and qualifications and will offer similar therapy. Private practice can generally offer appointments sooner and are often able to offer greater flexibility in terms of frequency of sessions and times that fit in with your family’s needs. Private therapists can also offer therapy in a variety of settings including your home, schools or nurseries.

Where will you see my child?

This will depend on your child and where we decide is the most beneficial environment. Initial assessments will usually be in the clinic. We can then decide where it would be best for your child’s therapy sessions to take place. As well as your home, you can be seen at The Children’s Place centres or in your child’s school or nursery. This can be flexible, and we can adapt venues as needs change.

How many sessions will my child need?

This will depend on your child’s age and individual needs and on the type of therapy they require. Your level of concern and your budget will be considered alongside what the research evidence recommends. After the assessment, we will decide on the number of sessions. We will monitor progress throughout this time. It is usually appropriate to have a break from therapy once specific skills have been targeted. Depending on the nature and severity of your child’s difficulties, therapy could last from just a few weeks to a number of months. Children with significant difficulties may need longer term support. Parents are free to withdraw their child from therapy at any time.

My child is on an NHS waiting list. Can you help while we wait?

Yes. An assessment session is usually offered within 1-2 weeks of a parent contacting us. We can offer interim advice or therapy until you get an appointment within the NHS. Once you have had your NHS appointment, you can choose to stop having private therapy or your child can have therapy from both the NHS and The Children’s Place at the same time. We make sure to collaborate with all other therapists involved with your child.

My child is being seen by an NHS therapist. Will you contact them?

Yes, with your consent. The aim is to collaborate with all other professionals involved with your child. This will help to ensure the best possible outcomes.

What is my role as a parent?

You will be present during the session so that techniques and activities can be demonstrated. Therapy is seen very much as something that the therapist and parents work on together. You will be given ideas of activities and ways to support therapy at home and it is important that these are followed through in order for your child to make the most progress. Advice and activities will be practical and easy to implement into your day.

What types of speech and language difficulties do you work with?

We assess and provide therapy to children with a range of developmental delays and communication difficulties within a fun and relaxed environment. Infants to school aged children come to The Children’s Place who have difficulties with:

• Speech and language development
• Articulation/phonology
• Developmental dyspraxia/childhood apraxia of speech
• Developmental dysarthria
• Receptive language (understanding)
• Expressive language (use of language)
• Stammering/stuttering
• Social and interactional skills
• Pre-literacy & literacy
• Phonological awareness
• Attention and listening
• Voice quality
• Feeding

Can I claim for the cost of speech and language therapy?

If you have private health insurance, you may be able to claim for the cost of speech and language therapy. It is the parents’ responsibility to pay directly for sessions and then claim the fees from the insurance company. It is advised that parents check the extent and terms of their cover.