Parents

We offer therapy for a range of speech, language and communication difficulties including: attention and listening difficulties, speech sound difficulties - speech delay and speech disorder, verbal dyspraxia, language delay and language disorder, including developmental language disorder and auditory processing difficulties. We have specialist experience of working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down’s Syndrome and social communication difficulties.

We are trained in the use of Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Attention Autism, SCERTS, Colourful Semantics, The Nuffield Dyspraxia Program, Rapid syllable transition treatment (ReST), Makaton signing and the Lidcombe program for children that stammer.

Speech, Language and Communication skills play a pivotal role in all of our lives - being able to build relationships, negotiate, learn and socialise are paramount to our children’s future success. Children develop these skills at different rates; whilst some develop these skills quickly for other children it takes longer and there are additional hurdles for them to face. These children may benefit from speech and language therapy.

Initial Assessment
Individualised, dynamic, timely

Usually an initial assessment will be carried out to establish the nature of your child's difficulties and their current level of need. We will look at areas of strength, areas for improvement and address family / school concerns from which we can map out an individual treatment plan that fits around you and your family.

Therapy
Accessible, motivating, evidence based

Therapy sessions are usually 30 or 45 minutes in duration and include time to discuss progress and ideas for home practise. As your child’s needs change, so will the frequency of required intervention. Therapy is fun, dynamic and evidence based using apps and electronic devices as well as more traditional toys, games and motivating resources. It may be that your child is on the waiting list or currently being seen by their local NHS speech and language therapy service. If this is the case both private and NHS therapists can liaise to ensure that goals and targets are compatible.

Parent FAQs

What happens after an initial consultation?
We will analyse assessment results and discuss these with you at the initial consultation. From there we can answer any questions you may have and make recommendations about next steps which could be; discharge, ongoing weekly therapy (individual or group), a review, a home program or a meeting with school or nursery.
What happens in a therapy session?
Direct one to one or small group work with you and your child either in one of our clinics (SN8 1QY or SN8 1QH) or at your home / child’s education setting. We may coach you on how to carry out specific speech and language ideas and strategies. Within the therapy session we will discuss how your child is doing, activities for home learning as well as direct therapy time with your child.
What else do the therapy sessions costs include?
  • planning prior to the session
  • preparing materials
  • feedback to you or school on progress after therapy sessions
  • Email feedback and liaison with family and school
  • Writing up our clinical notes after the therapy session in line with HCPC requirements
How do I know which therapy session to go for?
Therapy sessions are either 30 minutes or 45 minutes depending on the targets and concentration of your child. The therapist can recommend what they think is best at the initial consultation.
Will my child have individual or small group therapy sessions?
Your therapist will be able to guide at the initial consultation what they recommend in terms of group session or individual session. Ultimately it depends on the needs of the child, for some children it is better to work on speech or language skills with peers and for this reason we may recommend a group.
How long can I expect my child to attend speech therapy?
The length of the therapy cannot be predicted. Children may show immediate improvement or it may be very gradual. The rate and pattern of improvement is different for every child – we will discuss this with you.
Will I attend the sessions?
Ideally we encourage parents to attend therapy sessions where possible so help skills generalise and to maximise the child’s communication success over time and in different environments. In some circumstances it works better for the child if the parent waits in the waiting room in which case we leave time at the end of the session for feedback and home practise ideas.