Speech and Language Therapy for Under 5s

This page answers some common questions about speech and language therapy for children under 5 years old. Click on a question to see the answer.

Attend your local children and family centre. There are groups to help develop speech and language called Little Talkers, Stay and Play and Invitation to Play. Please speak to a health visitor, family support worker or staff at your local children and family centre about attending sessions that are suitable for your child.
Look at the resources below in the section called "What can I do to support a child's speech and language? Look at the leaflets and videos on how to support communication at home, and put these strategies in place every day for a few months.
If you still have concerns after a few months, please refer the child to Speech and Language Therapy.

If I am a parent?

If you are a parent who wants to refer your child to Speech and Language Therapy, please contact our team for advice and information. Please contact the Early Years Team at [email protected] or 020 7767 3322 option 3.

If I am a professional?

You can refer via the Single Point of Access (SPA) Form. Children can be referred with parental consent by professionals, e.g. GP, Health Visitor, family support workers, early intervention workers, etc. Please fill out this form in full, including as much relevant information as possible, and send it to [email protected].

Please note that if a child attends a school, we may request that the school arranges a consultation with us to discuss the child in order to help us identify whether our service is appropriate.

If I am in a school setting?

Schools wishing to refer to our assessment service should contact our team to discuss the child. Please email [email protected] to request a consultation and a suitable time to discuss the child will be arranged. Please do not include any information about the child in the e-mail.

Please note referrals from schools / nurseries will only be accepted if this consultation process is followed.

The assessment will be carried out by a Speech and Language Therapist. It will take around one hour.

The assessment will include:

A case history. We will ask the parent / carer detailed questions about the child’s communication and development. It can feel like a lot of questions and details but it helps the professional make better decisions about diagnosis / appropriate next steps.
A play-based observation and, if appropriate, some formal assessment may also be completed with the child.
The parent / carer and referrer will receive a written report a few weeks after the assessment.

For children referred before their third birthday

If a child is referred before they are three years of age, they may be offered a block of therapy. The speech and language therapist who assesses the child will decide on the best next steps. This may be a group, one-to-one therapy, or a discharge from the service, depending on the child’s needs.

For children referred after their third birthday

Our service can only offer assessments (no therapy) to children aged three years or older at the time of referral.

Parents of children aged 3-5 who are or have been known to our service and have a specific query (e.g., they have been using recommended strategies but they’re not working and they would like advice on what else they can try) can request advice in a telephone session with a speech and language therapist.

If a parent would like a parent consultation, they should contact the Early Years team at [email protected] or (020) 7767 3322 option 3 to book a telephone session for advice from a speech and language therapist.

Parents of children who are or have been known to our service and have a specific query (e.g., they have been using recommended strategies but they’re not working and they would like advice on what else they can try) can request advice in a telephone session with a speech and language therapist.

Our waiting time is currently up to 9 months for an initial assessment.

Please look at the following resources and start using the strategies at home:

Information and videos on How to set up special time and support your child’s communication:

Videos:

Leaflets:

Supporting communication - adding a word

Supporting communication - following your child's lead

Supporting communication - special time handout

Supporting communication - commenting

Supporting communication - waiting

Information and videos on how to create communication opportunities:

These videos and leaflets are useful for children with social communication difficulties/autism:

Videos:

Leaflets:

Creating Communication Opportunities - Bit by Bit

Creating Communication Opportunities - Creating Surprises

Creating Communication Opportunities - Offering Choices

Creating Communication Opportunities - Pausing Strategy

Creating Communication Opportunities - People Games

Information and videos on how to use visuals to support your childs understanding:

Videos:

Visuals - Now Video

Visuals - Now and Next Video

Visuals - Objects of Reference Video

Leaflets:

Visuals - Now and Next

Visuals - Now

Visuals - Objects of Reference

Please follow this link to find more information about how to make a complaint:

Click here to find out how to complain about the Speech and Language Service

Speech and Language UK

The Communication Trust Resources for Parents

The Communication Trust Resources for Practitioners

BBC - Tiny Happy People

National Autistic Society Advice and Guidance

NHS UK Start of Life: Learning to Talk

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Speech and Language Therapy for Under 5s

I am concerned about a child's speech and language, what can I do?

How can I refer a child under the age of 5 to Speech and Language Therapy?

What does an assessment look like?

What happens after the assessment?

A child has been discharged from the Speech and Language Service but I am still worried about their speech and language. What can I do?

How long do I have to wait for an assessment?

What can I do to support a child's speech and language?

How do I make a complaint?

Other sources of advice and information