Your questions answered

Every child develops at their own pace, but if you have questions or concerns about your child’s speech, language, communication, fluency (stammering) or social communication, it may be helpful to seek advice. We are happy to discuss your observations, understand your child’s strengths and needs, and advise whether an assessment may be appropriate.

Some speech sound difficulties resolve naturally as children develop, while others may require support. Early assessment can help to identify whether your child’s speech development is following a typical pattern and whether speech and language therapy may be beneficial.

Speech, language and communication skills underpin many aspects of learning, including understanding instructions, developing literacy skills, participating in classroom activities and building relationships. Difficulties in these areas can impact educational progress, but appropriate support can help children develop the skills they need to access learning successfully.

Assessments are tailored to the individual’s age, needs and goals. They include observation, discussion with parents or carers, informal and formal assessment activities, and consultation with educational settings or other professionals, where appropriate. Following the assessment, recommendations and next steps will be discussed with you.

Every therapy session is tailored to the individual’s strengths, needs, interests and goals. For children, therapy is often delivered through play, interaction and activities that are meaningful and motivating to them. We use a wide range of toys, games, sensory supports and specialist resources to encourage engagement, communication and participation. Sessions are designed to be enjoyable, supportive and responsive to each individual, while helping them develop skills and confidence that can be used in everyday life.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The length of support required depends on the individual’s strengths, needs, goals and rate of progress. Some people benefit from a small number of sessions and advice, while others may require longer-term support.

Yes. We believe that collaboration is key to achieving the best outcomes. We regularly work alongside families, nurseries, schools, colleges, healthcare professionals and other services to ensure support is consistent across environments.

Where appropriate, support can be provided within educational settings, at home or in our clinic. The most suitable location will depend on the individual’s needs, goals and the nature of the support required.

Yes. SpeechRight offers specialist assessment and support for adults who stammer. Our therapists have experience supporting adults with a wide range of stammering experiences and recognise that every person’s relationship with their stammer is unique.

We take a stammer-affirming approach, working collaboratively with individuals to explore their experiences, identify their goals and build confidence in communication. Support is tailored to the individual and may focus on areas such as increasing participation in everyday situations, reducing avoidance, developing self-advocacy skills and communicating in ways that feel authentic and effective.

Our aim is to support adults who stammer to communicate with confidence and to participate fully in the situations that matter most to them.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss whether our service may be appropriate for you.

We support children, young people and adults with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs, including autism, Gestalt Language Processing, stammering, Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Childhood Apraxia of Speech/Verbal Dyspraxia, speech sound difficulties, social communication differences and other communication needs. If you are unsure whether we can help, please get in touch and we will be happy to discuss your situation.

Yes. SpeechRight has significant experience supporting children and young people throughout the EHCP process. We regularly undertake independent assessments, provide advice and reports for Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs), contribute to annual reviews and support EHCP amendments.

Our therapists also have experience of providing expert evidence for tribunal proceedings where speech, language and communication needs are being considered. We are committed to ensuring that communication needs are accurately identified and that recommendations for support are clear, specific, evidence-based and informed by the statutory SEND framework and current guidance.

SpeechRight is also an approved provider of speech and language therapy services for a number of local authorities. We regularly deliver EHCP speech and language therapy provision specified within Education, Health and Care Plans. This gives us a strong understanding of both the assessment and delivery aspects of EHCP support, enabling us to work effectively alongside families, educational settings, local authorities and other professionals.

When making recommendations, we strive to ensure that provision is clearly described, appropriately quantified, where necessary, and focused on helping children and young people achieve meaningful outcomes within their educational and everyday environments.

Referrals can be made by parents, carers, adults seeking support, educational settings, healthcare professionals or local authorities. Simply complete our contact form or get in touch by telephone or email, and a member of our team will discuss your enquiry with you.

All referrals are carefully reviewed to ensure that SpeechRight is the most appropriate service for the individual’s needs. When considering a referral, we take into account factors such as the nature of the communication needs, therapist expertise and current capacity.

This process helps us maintain the high standards of assessment, therapy and support that we pride ourselves in providing. Whilst we aim to support as many individuals as possible, there may be occasions when we are unable to accept a referral.

Following acceptance of a referral, we will discuss the most appropriate next steps, including assessment options, availability and associated fees.