speech and language therapy west london

Kite Studios, 2B Bassein Park Rd, Shepherd’s Bush W12 9RY |  [email protected] | 07469 214032

West London Speech and Language Therapy

Inspiring confidence. creating meaningful connections..

• Play-based assessment and therapy for children aged 0 – 5 years
• Partnership with nurseries

Family-centred. Practical. Fun.

• Assessment and therapy sessions for school-aged children
• Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessments

Child-centred. Holistic. Functional.

Young People

• Assessment and therapy sessions for young people up to 25 years

Friendships. Self-advocacy. Employability.

Dedicated support for children and young people to reach their speech, language and communication potential

We are a team of passionate speech and language therapists who provide assessment and bespoke therapy sessions to meet individual needs. We offer professional but personal services where you and your child are at the centre of the process.

We work alongside parents/carers and teachers to support children and young people to develop their communication. We use fun and motivating activities to help children make changes to their communication. We aim to help them with friendships, learning and independence.

We promote language and communication development through:

• Developmental check-ups for children aged 0-2.5 years with advice
• Training workshops for parents/carers, health and education professionals

We support a wide range of speech, language and communication needs including:

• Language difficulties
• Developmental language disorder (DLD)
• Speech sound difficulties
• Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia
• Autism Spectrum Disorders and social communication difficulties
• Speech, language and communication needs which are secondary to another diagnosis/need
• Complex communication needs that require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems

How we work

Contact us for a free phone consultation

Assessment. Undertaken together with family and those closely involved

Delivering Therapy

Our Services and Fees

West London Speech and Language Therapy provides a range of services to meet you and your child’s specific needs. Please call for further information and/or support in selecting the most appropriate service for you and your child.

Initial Consultation and Assessment

This comprehensive evaluation of speech, language and communication needs comprises of  an in-depth consultation with you and your child/young person, gaining case history information and any other relevant details.

• detailed assessment using both formal and informal methods by a Speech and Language Therapist
• verbal feedback on results of the assessment
• brief written recommendations

Details Duration: Up to 2 hours Fee: £180 – £295

Detailed Report: £125

Speech Sound Report: £75

Additional hours spent are charged at £80 and will always be discussed and agreed with the parent/carer in advance.

‘Talk on Track’, Developmental Language Screen

This is a short screening assessment for children aged 0 – 2;06 years at our clinic. This short assessment is useful if you wish to determine if your child’s language and communication skills are on track for age.

Details Duration: 30 minutes, plus brief written advice if required.

Therapy Sessions

Therapy sessions will be tailored to meet your child’s speech, language and communication needs. Each therapy session will involve a speech and language therapist working with you and your child to maximise their skills. After the assessment, the therapist will agree some targets with you and therapy sessions will work towards these targets at a pace that is right for your child. Practical activities to support at home will be provided.

For young people, sessions will be tailored to their individual needs and will be structured in collaboration with them. A focus will be supporting communication skills for the transition to adulthood.

Duration: 45 minutes

Fee: £88 per session (to be booked in blocks of 6 (£528) or 8 sessions (£704).

Duration: 30 minutes (speech sounds only) Fee: £70 per session (to be booked in blocks of 6  or 8 sessions £420/£580).

Some sessions may be offered at the child’s education setting and incur a preparation and travel charge.

Travel: (based on using public transport)

• Within 10 mins: £5
• 11 – 20 mins: £20
• 21 – 30 mins: £25
• More than 30 mins: £30

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

Assessment and report to inform Education, Health and Care Plan £650

This accounts for a full day’s work. Any additional time required for liaison, reading of documentation, or additional assessment will be charged at £80 per hour.

EHCP provision £95 This is an hourly rate that applies to all direct and indirect work.

Observations/Meetings/Programmes

Nursery/School Observation Visits Nursery/School visits are only made with parental agreement. Often visits to education settings are a very useful way of supporting your child’s development. It provides opportunities to observe your child’s skills in that environment as well as information on social interaction and access to the curriculum. Education staff gain from developing an understanding of your child’s needs from the perspective of a speech and language therapist, thus enabling them to maximise communication opportunities in the setting.

Details Duration: Up to an hour Fee: £40 per 30 min, plus travel

Attendance at Case Conferences, Multi-Disciplinary Meetings The speech and language therapist will be able to contribute to case conferences and other meetings relating to your child’s needs in person and/or by providing a report. Advance notice of at least two weeks is required.

Home/School Programme This is a tailored therapy pack including activities and relevant resources designed to develop your child’s communication skills. This pack will be developed in collaboration with your child’s education setting.

The programme is delivered by parent/carer/school staff and your child’s progress will be reviewed at an agreed time.

Details Duration: As required Fee: £80 per hour

Talks, workshops and training sessions for groups of parents and professionals can be arranged. Additional charges at the standard rate will be made for time taken in preparation and the provision of handouts etc.

Details Fee: £100 per hour

Testimonials

WLSLT has been working with our son since he was 18 months old. Our son has benefitted enormously from the support received as part of his therapy sessions not only in his communication but as part of his global development as well. Our son, who has complex medical needs has moved from a child who was completely non-verbal and unable to express himself, to communicating with Makaton and finally verbally. It is clear from every session just how much thought and effort has gone into planning and really driving progress. We have found the therapist’s experience, skill and dedication invaluable throughout our son’s journey and she has shown remarkable commitment to developing his ability to communicate. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend WLSLT for any family.

Parent of child seen at clinic and via Zoom at home

My son has received speech and language therapy from WLSLT for the past six years. The therapist has been an amazing source of support and guidance as we have worked together to help our son. She has a very gentle, fun and relaxed manner which has helped her develop a lovely relationship with our child and helped him to understand his disfluency. We have always felt we were working with a highly qualified speech therapist who takes the time to understand each child and find appropriate guidance and activities for them. We would highly recommend WLSLT.

We have used the services of West London Speech and Language Therapy since Nov 2017 when my son was 6 years old. We started as a recommendation from another local therapist and continue to use them working along with the school. We base the lessons on the school curriculum and they include some fun games at the end of the lesson which also help improve my son’s grasp of English at the same time.

We have had in person lessons and virtual remote lessons and a report on what was covered each week is then fed back to the SENCo and the teachers at the school.

I can recommend thoroughly.

John – parent of child seen in an education setting  

WLSLT started working with us in 2019. I say ‘us’ as this was the first time in our long experience of speech therapy that I really felt as a parent I was fully invited to learn and share as much as my son. This has been key in his progress as I have become more aware and able to facilitate him by applying strategies.

Our therapist is so well versed in her practice that she can fully respond to the specific needs of my son in each session depending on his needs on that day. His concentration, health and focus fluctuates greatly and the therapist has responded to this in a way that no session has felt wasted – in the past I found he was not on his best form and the sessions weren’t always justified but with WLSLT there has always been an opportunity created for my son to feel motivated and comfortable enough to try.

I also feel very lucky we have found a therapist who fully understands the challenge of transition into adulthood and embraces that as an integral focus in the session so that the outcomes are practical and tangible (Parent of 16 year old – receives teletherapy sessions)

West London Speech and Language Therapy has been a part of my son’s life from the age of 3 until his transition into secondary school at age 11. When we first met our therapist, my son was barely stringing 2 words together and with her help and strategies, from the time of his diagnosis with Autism and getting an EHCP before starting Reception, throughout mainstream primary school, he is now managing his way through secondary school with less support in a mainstream setting.

By introducing a range of strategies from colourful semantics to Lego therapy to social thinking and being a social detective, as well as tailor-made social stories to address changes and challenges, he has come a long way and has gone from a child petrified of the playground at lunchtime to a confident preteen who says hello to everyone and always has a smile on his face.

Working together with West London Speech and Language Therapy has been an absolute privilege and although we are sorry to part ways now, we know that the interventions and specific therapy received has been crucial to one happy boy who wouldn’t be as confident as he is today without their support and guidance. I cannot recommend a more professional yet personal and caring support network for anyone looking for speech and language therapy for child!

Parent of child seen in education setting  

I am very pleased with the progress that my son made during his speech therapy at West London Speech and Language Therapy for more than 5 years now. My son has a language disorder and right from the initial assessment through to the end the therapist was exceptional not only with my son but with me, as she made us feel very comfortable at every session, answering every question that I had and also gave plenty resources useful for my son speech delay and comprehension area.

Parent of child seen at school and in clinic 

Suzanne Da Silva

Speech and Language Therapist Director

Aoife Curran

Katie Harrison

Speech and Language Therapist Team Lead

Sophie Sparrow

Sarah Powell

Rachel Crane

Speech and Language Therapist

Diana Hashimi

Raffaella Marrafino

Ashleigh Ibrahim

Jo Plews-Mayall

Rebecca O'Malley

Amelia Collis

Sarah Coughlan

Elmise Mimbo

Amira Al-Hooti

Amelia Elliott

Saara Choudhry

Zoe Sibbald

Niva Gosden

Caroline Milnes

Administrator

What are the benefits of Speech and Language Therapy?

Speech and Language Therapists have studied to degree level and received highly specialist training in all aspects of communication development. They are qualified in making assessments and in supporting children and young people with all forms of communication needs. They will be able to offer you specialist advice.

Why choose an independent therapist?

There is no difference in the training or qualifications of an independent therapist and an NHS therapist. Both West London Speech and Language Therapy directors have worked for many years for the NHS as well as independently. An independent therapist may be able to see your child/young person sooner and more frequently than an NHS therapist. They also have more flexibility in the therapy they can offer.

Do I need a referral from my GP?

No, you can refer your child to West London Speech and Language Therapy yourself. Email: [email protected]  or ring for a free 15 minute initial telephone consultation: Phone no: 07469 214032

Where does the therapy take place?

Assessment and therapy sessions take place at our clinic at Kite Studios, Shepherd’s Bush. Sometimes assessments and therapy can be arranged in your child’s/young person’s education setting but this can be dependent on a number of factors. Please phone to discuss this.

How many sessions will my child/young person need and how long will they last?

This will depend on your child/young person’s individual needs, the nature of their communication difficulty and response to therapy. We offer ongoing therapy sessions with regular review of progress. A typical therapy session lasts 45 minutes. Most of this time will be spent working directly with your child/young person but will include some time to discuss progress and new activities to focus on.

You are free to withdraw from therapy at any time.

Can I watch the sessions? (for parents of children up to 16 years)

It is advised that you attend all sessions so that the Speech and Language Therapist can demonstrate activities to you and show you ways in which you can help your child. The interactions that you have with your child on a daily basis are key to enabling your child to make progress.

How much do the sessions cost?

Please see the  Services and Fees .

How can I find out if a therapist is qualified?

All Speech and Language Therapists should be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council  (HCPC) . One of its key functions is to maintain and publish a register of health professionals who meet national standards: www.hcpc-uk.org

Registered members of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists  (RCSLT) adhere to the ethical and professional standards outlined by RCSLT. A list of registered members is available on their website.

The Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice  (ASLTIP) requires all speech and language therapists listed on their database to be registered with the HCPC and a member of the RCSLT: www.asltip.com

[email protected] Phone no: 07469 214032

Privacy Overview

Call Us 07861 703626

Email us [email protected], botero speech 4 kids, independent speech & language therapy in west london.

Botero Speech 4 Kids is a private speech-language therapy practice in West London.  We assess, diagnose, and treat children with speech, language, social communication, and cognitive communication difficulties.  Botero Speech 4 Kids offers personalized care to every client through sound advice, evidenced-based practice, responsible diagnoses and procedures, and family education.  We are proud to offer bilingual speech-language therapy, online speech-language therapy, individual and group therapy, training, and school services.

Oribell has been working with Z, our 4-year-old daughter, for about 6 months now and we are very happy with her progress so far. Oribell is a very knowledgeable, resourceful, creative, and compassionate professional, from the beginning she instilled in us the confidence that we were in good hands. We have seen great improvement in Z over the past few months. Oribell has a wonderful ability to reach Z and make her feel comfortable. Z always has a great time during the sessions, which Oribell directs in a very fun manner. Z is now more able to communicate what she needs/wants and feels more comfortable in the company of other kids. Her eye contact and interaction skills have improved significantly. Z has started using some words (and she also sings!) and her understanding is a lot better now. Our daughter is happier now and it brings us some much joy to see her personality. We are very excited to progress further on our journey with Oribell and would have no hesitation in recommending her services. Mother to 4-year-old

• [email protected]
• 020 8061 9947
• 07494 200394

Home » Speech and Language Therapy

Speech & Language Therapy

Chiswick, west london, our in-house, highly experienced speech and language therapy team provides talk-on-track screeners, assessments and one-to-one therapy sessions for children and adolescents from our fully equipped, bright and welcoming therapy rooms. academic difficulty and poor literacy skills can be associated with untreated speech and language disorders and by screening young children for both speech and language disorders and delays, it is possible to prevent lifelong learning difficulties. the clinic caters for children and young people aged 18 months – 18 years..

What can Speech & Language Therapy help with?

Our team can support with a range of Speech and Language concerns, ranging from mild speech sound difficulties, to severe communication needs. We can support with:

• Attention and listening and/or learning difficulties • Language delay and/or impairment • Play skills and/or social and emotional difficulties • Speech sound difficulties • Hearing impairment and/or auditory processing • Down syndrome • Cerebral palsy • Autistic spectrum disorders • Selective mutism • Phonological awareness and pre-literacy skills • EAL (English as an additional language)

Our Therapy team are registered practising members of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), which is the professional body for Speech and Language Therapists in the UK, and the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP).

How does Speech and Language Therapy work at The Children's Wellness Centre?

Before we can begin Speech and Language Therapy sessions, in order to tailor these to the exact needs of your child, our Therapists will need to either carry out a “ Screene r ” or a more in-depth, formal initial “ Assessment “. More details about these and what option may be best for your child can be found below.  

If your child has previously been assessed in the last 6 months by a Speech and Language Therapist (either privately or on the NHS) we may be able to use this report and begin initial Therapy sessions straight away, without the need for us to complete a Screener or Assessment in our clinic.

Please note, if a previous Assessment report is more than 6 months old, we will not be able to use this and will need to carry out a new Assessment.

Before your initial session, there will be a pre-assessment questionnaire and case history taken from parents/carers, where any concerns, strengths or needs can be shared. This will enable our Therapists to prepare for the first meeting, allowing them to fully focus on your child, rather than needing to go through all the background information with you.

If Therapy is recommended, our Therapists will agree on a set number of sessions that they feel would be appropriate to target the goals. This is usually a 6-8 week block, with a Therapy session once a week.

Services and costs

Speech & language talk on track "screener" (18 months - 4 years).

• Screening for age appropriate articulation (if deemed necessary) and the ability to produce speech sounds
• Basic screening of receptive and expressive language (a child's ability to understand and use language)
• Basic screening for age appropriate social skills and play skills

Speech & Language Assessment (18 months - 4 years)

• Informal and formal Assessment of age appropriate articulation and the ability to produce speech sounds (if deemed necessary)
• Informal and formal Assessment of receptive and expressive language (a child's ability to understand and use language)
• Informal Assessment of age appropriate social skills and play skills

School Aged Speech & Language Assessment (5 - 18 years)

• Formal Assessment of age appropriate articulation (if deemed necessary) language skills and narrative skills
• Formal Assessment of receptive and expressive language (a child's ability to understand and use language)
• Formal and Informal Assessments of overall communication skills and for age appropriate social skills and core language

Speech & Language Assessment for Stammering (18 months - 19 years)

• Previous case history examined
• Assessment of fluency of speech and any speech flow disruptions
• Assessment of communication and language skills to rule out other potential contributing factors

Swallowing Assessment for potential Dysphagia (18 months - 18 years)

• Assessment and observation of eating and drinking skills using a variety of apparatus
• Identification of any potential risk factors associated with an ineffective swallow
• Assessment of basic communication and oral-motor skills

Assessments for EHCP Purposes

If you are loo king for a formal Speech and Language Assess ment and written report to be used towards your child’s EHCP application, this is charged at £595.  This will be booked as a 90 minute appointment and the formal report will be sent to you within 3 weeks of the Assessment date. 

Therapy sessions

Dependent on the results of the Screener or Assessment, our Therapists will advise if regular Therapy sessions are required in order to support your child’s progress and development.

For children aged 2-3 years the session is usually 30-minutes and is charged at £70.00 per session For children aged 4+years the session is usually 45-minutes and is charged at £90.00 per session 

Any review reports are charged at £125.

A block of 8 weeks of sessions will be booked in for your child and it is important that sessions are attended consistently in order for progress to be made.

Therapy sessions include direct time completing Therapy activities and time providing verbal feedback to parents and caregivers. The feedback includes ideas for home practise which are designed to reinforce the focus of Therapy and help your child progress more rapidly. 

Please note, for many children, successful speech and language intervention requires follow up work at home. This assists the child to generalise their new skills in their everyday environments.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to book one of the above services, please make contact via the form below, detailing what service you are interested in and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Privacy Overview

Speech and language therapy for adults

Our speech and language therapists specialise in assessing, diagnosing and treating you if you have a communication or swallowing disorder.

We aim to give you the best possible function, independence and quality of life by providing you with tailored treatment programmes, advice and education. 

You can get treatment at our outpatient clinics in the community or at home, if you can’t get out and about.

We also provide therapy to inpatients in Clayponds Hospital

We have specialist teams for people with learning disabilities and children and young people   We also help people in nursing homes and hospices.

Who we treat

We treat patients with speech, language or swallowing difficulties, which can be associated with the following diagnosis:

• Swallowing problems due to frailty
• Cardio-vascular problems, such as a stroke
• Complications after surgery
• Degenerative neurological disorder, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease
• Head injuries
• Learning disabilities
• Brain tumour and other cancers
• Respiratory conditions
• Stammering.

Where we provide your care

• Outpatient clinics based in the locality (neighbourhood)
• Home visits to patients who can’t get out
• Outreach support for patients in other settings outside hospital, such as nursing homes and hospices.

Support for primary care and nursing homes

• We provide specialist advice and guidance to GPs, nursing home staff, patients and carers, including support and discussions about identifying and safeguarding against risk.
• We flag high risk patients to GPs and nursing home staff for potential follow up and close monitoring.
• We provide education and training on specific pathology (such as aspiration pneumonia) and strategies for managing risk in people with swallowing difficulties.

Care for inpatients at Clayponds Rehabilitation Hospital

• If you’re staying in Clayponds Hospital, we offer rehabilitation assessment, therapy and treatment, working with the wider medical team.

Our outpatient and community services in Ealing accept referrals from GPs or consultants.

To refer, please email [email protected]

If you have learning disabilities, please contact the multi-disciplinary community team for people with learning disabilities at Green Lane, London W7 2PB for help completing a referral.

Where to find support online

• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists 
• The Stroke Association  
• Communication Disability Network
• Support for carers of stroke sufferers Stroke4Carers
• Head injuries charity Headway
• Motor Neurone Disease Association 
• Parkinson’s UK
• Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Cancer Research UK
• Cancer support charity Macmillan
• National Association of Laryngectomy Clubs
• British Voice Association .

Telephone: 0300 1234544

Clayponds Rehabilitation Hospital Ealing Day Treatment Centre

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Contact us  today  on  020 3475 2189

SPEECH THERAPY FOR ADULTS

ADULT SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY DEPARTMENT

There are many reasons that as an adult you may experience Speech and Language difficulties. Our  London Speech Therapist  works in a variety of areas in order to help an adult struggling with either their communication difficulties.

Do you identify with any of the following:

• Difficulty with pronouncing certain words following a stroke, a traumatic brain injury or any other medical condition?
• Do you feel that your facial muscles are weak, causing your speech to sound slurry or slushy?
• Are you experiencing any difficulty with stammering or speaking at such a quick pace that you feel that no one understands you?
• Do you suffer from severe stress, anxiety or trauma causing you to lose your voice?
• Have you suffered a stroke and now are experiencing difficulty speaking and/or understanding language?
• Have you been diagnosed with any of the following Motor Neurone Disease, Dementia, Head & Neck Cancer or Right Hemisphere damage?

If you identify with any of the above list or you have any other Speech, Language, Swallowing and Communication concerns then you we recommend you start with a Speech and Language Assessment.

London Speech Therapy  provides a flexible approach to Speech and Language Assessments by using a mix of formal (standardised and norm-referenced) and informal assessments to gain an accurate picture of your communication needs, and this is then used to plan effective, accessible speech and language therapy for adults.

Speech and language assessments can take place at our Harley Street clinic (Central London), our Stratford Clinic (East London) our clinic space at Parkside Hospital, Wimbledon (South-West London) or at your home.

Why ask London Speech Therapy to help with your Speech and Language Assessment?

All our  Speech and Language Therapists  are fully qualified Speech and Language Therapists with Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registration and membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

Our therapists are experienced in working with a range of communication impairments including:

• Motor Speech Disorders  
• Voice Disorders
• English as a second language
• Autistic Spectrum Disorders
• Dysfluency (Stammering) 

A multidisciplinary team may be required in order to devise the best therapy plan for you. If your needs are complex and more professionals are required, London Speech Therapy liaises both with NHS and private hospital in order to make sure that a thorough and complete assessment is completed, and that you get the right support for you.

What happens after your Speech and Language Assessment?

After your Speech and Language Assessment, if required, an individual course of therapy can be planned. Our specialist Speech & Language Therapists ensure that each and every Speech & Language Therapy Session is functional and effective by using a range of therapy resources and approaches.

• Welcome to Speech and Language Therapy London Ltd

• +44 7881 673481
• [email protected]

• Online Therapy
• Supervision
• Training and consultancy
• Professional communication
• Multilingual Services

Welcome to Speech and Language Therapy London

We are a leading private adult speech and language therapy service distinguished for our proficiency in assessing, diagnosing, and treating speech, language, communication, voice, and swallowing issues.

We take pride in delivering exceptional client-focused care, speech rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, and other communication therapies. Our commitment to excellence is reflected through our use of advanced rehabilitation methods, evidence-based programmes, and the latest research to achieve successful results.

Why Choose Us ?

S&L Therapy London understands the significance of selecting the right speech and language therapy provider. Here are the reasons why we are the preferred choice for service users:

• Expertise and Experience : S&L Therapy is led by Dr. Shereen Matar, who brings years of experience and specialised expertise in addressing a wide range of adult communication and swallowing difficulties. At S&L Therapy London you can trust that you are receiving the highest level of care and guidance.
• Personalized Approach : We recognise that each adult has unique needs, capabilities, and goals. Our therapists take a personalised approach to create tailored treatment plans that address each individual's specific concerns and aspirations.
• Comprehensive Services : From simple to complex speech or swallowing disorders in adults, we have designed client-specific solutions to fulfil your needs. Whether you are seeking assistance with speech articulation, speech rehabilitation, language comprehension, voice disorders, and other speech and language-related issues, at S&L Therapy London, you will thrive!
• Evidence-Based Practice : Our therapy methods are rooted in evidence-based practices and the latest research in the field, ensuring that you receive the most effective and up-to-date treatments available.
• Holistic Care : We believe in treating the whole individual, not just the symptoms, considering the emotional and social aspects of communication to create a supportive and nurturing environment for your progress.
• Convenient Scheduling : Flexible scheduling options are available to accommodate busy lifestyles, making it easier to prioritise speech and language therapy at your convenience.
• Private and Online Services : We value clients’ time, privacy, and space. We offer both Private and Online services, so you can access top-notch speech and language therapy wherever you are!
• Results-Driven : Our primary goal is to help individuals achieve meaningful and measurable results. We continuously track progress and adjust our approach as needed to maximise positive outcomes.
• Supportive Environment : We create a comfortable and supportive atmosphere where you can feel at ease during therapy sessions, encouraging open communication and collaboration between the client and the therapist.
• Commitment to Your Success : Be it through Vocational Rehabilitation or Speech therapy, we are deeply committed to individuals' success and their journey towards improved communication. Your success is our success, and we are dedicated to helping you achieve your fullest potential.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards enhancing communication skills and overall quality of life.

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Founded in 2018 by Emma Flax , The Speech Service is a  private speech and language therapy service covering North London.

We provide specialist speech and language therapy services for adults and children..

The Speech Service has a small team of Adult and Paediatric therapists who cover a wide area of North London, including, but not limited to:

​ Woodside Park 

Totteridge & Whetstone

Friern Barnet

Brunswick Park

​ Potters Bar

Cockfosters

Golders Green

Ham ps tead

West Hampstead

Borehamwood

Speech and language therapy for children

Coronavirus 

Visit the NHS UK website for the latest guidance on: 

• Coronavirus symptoms  
• Advice for patients 
• Using the  NHS 111  service
• NHS services that can be used at this time
• Self isolation and social distancing 

For latest advice, please visit  www.nhs.uk 

This website sets out information on Speech and Language Therapy services we provide to young people and children at Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust. For general information about child health and development, visit  CLCH Health Matters .

Our children and young people's Speech and Language Therapy teams assess, diagnose and provide children and young people with speech, language, communication and/or swallowing problems.

- CLCH paediatric Speech and Language Therapists deliver distinct services in the following geographical areas:

• Brent - Outer West Division 
• Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster - Inner North West Division 
• Merton - South West Division

Our service and who we see

We see children and young people who have one or more of the following conditions: 

• developmental language disorder
• speech sound difficulties
• language disorder linked to with a sensory, cognitive or physical disability
• autism or social interaction difficulties
• voice disorders
• selective mutism
• eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties  

Who is our service available to?

Brent (Outer North West Division):

Merton (South West Division):

Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster (Inner North West Division):

The Speech and Language Therapy Early Years Service (pre-school) provides support to children who have Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and Eating and Drinking Difficulties (EED/Dysphagia) who have a GP within these three inner London boroughs. The school aged SLT service is for pupils who have significant speech, language and communication or dysphagia in Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.

Should you have any concerns about your child’s communication skills in the future, please discuss these directly with the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) at your child’s primary school.

Merton service information

Local arrangements for children’s Speech and Language Therapy in Merton can be accessed by contacting the locality lead for the service based at The Civic Centre, Morden.

Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster service information

Within the inner London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster - SLT is split into 3 teams :

1.      Early Years (pre-school)

2.      Education

3.      Dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing).

Referrals forms for each team can be found in the ‘Helpful Information’ section towards the end of the page.

Community Early Years Speech and Language Therapy services

Our service is available to preschool children (0 - 5 years), who have speech, language and communication needs. Our Speech and Language Therapy service mostly takes place in clinics, children’s centres, nurseries and nursery classes attached to schools. The support we provide includes assessment of needs, group and individual therapy for children, and training and collaborating with parents and carers and staff involved in the child’s care. Our Speech and Language Therapists run drop-in sessions at children’s centres, for parents/carers to find out more about speech and language needs and our service, and to discuss any concerns they have with their child’s speech, language, and communication development.

The child must be registered with a GP within the boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea or Westminster. 

Helpful information:

• Referral form for Early Years Speech and Language Therapy (electronic version)
• ​ Referral form for Early Years Speech and Language Therapy (print version)
• What to expect from your Early Years Speech and Language Therapy service

Please ensure you  refer to the audiology service  at the same time or call:  020 3704 6060.   NB:  audiology only accept referrals from healthcare professionals, please do ring audiology directly if you have any queries about the service.

For information about expected language development and key milestones in the Early Years (0 - 5 years old), please refer to our  Monitoring Form. 

We work as part of the multidisciplinay teams at the Cheyne Child Development Service and the Neurodisability and Child Development Service at Imperial College Healthcare Trust.

Parent/Carer workshops

Information on parent/carer workshops can be found here. 

A range of training options is available to staff working in early years including early years practitioners, voluntary staff and health visitors, to help support all children and young people’s communication, click here to find more information on the workshops available.   

Community Education Speech and Language Therapy services

Our Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service for mainstream primary schools, secondary schools and colleagues offers dedicated support to parents/carers and school staff to empower them to meet the speech, language and communication needs of all children and young people through a whole system approach. This includes providing advice, training, and information to school staff and parents/carers to help them with identifying and meeting speech and language needs through universal and targeted support, and when needed, episodes of specialist intervention. Read more about our school aged SLCN pathway here .

The education service runs a variety of free training which is updated termly. Please visit the  Services to schools website  to book your free place. For parent training and events, please visit our communication hub to find out more. 

All children in mainstream schools with eating and drinking needs will be supported by SLTs working in the special schools SLT team.

Some schools also buy in additional Speech and Language Therapy for students attending their schools. Some schools buy in SLT support from the CLCH NHS team, other schools choose to buy in additional SLT support from independently employed Speech and Language Therapists. To find out more about what is happening in your child’s school to support them, please speak to their school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).

Special Schools and Additional Resource Provisions

Within Special Schools and Units, SLTs work as part of the school teams to develop the approach to supporting communication within the school setting. The needs of students’ with Education Health Care Plans are met functionally within a wide range of school activities and therapists work alongside class teams to support the development of communication skills within the whole school community throughout the day. Parents are welcome to contact therapy teams within the schools to discuss their child’s communication and interaction needs and current care plan at any time.

School therapists work with the individual school provisions to respond to identified training needs within the school. 

SLTs will work with school staff and families to support children with eating and drinking needs where this is required.

Out of borough schools

Children attending schools outside of CLCH or independent schools will usually access therapy and other support at their school.  

If a child has SLT provision on an Education Health and Care plan, please speak with your child’s Local Authority EHCP Coordinator regarding arrangements that have been made for them to receive SLT support in their school. The H&F Local Authority EHCP Coordinators can be contacted on  [email protected]  or 0208 753 1021 . The K&C and Westminster Local Authority EHCP Coordinators can be contacted on [email protected] or 020 7361 3311.

Children without an EHCP who attend out of borough schools or independent schools can be referred to the ‘School Aged SLT Assessment and Advice Clinics’ as detailed in the ‘referrals’ section above by their GP.

School Aged Assessment and Advice Referrals

Children and young people who are school aged and also have a Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, or Hammersmith Fulham GP can be referred to the ‘School Aged SLT Assessment and Advice’ Clinics. The Assessment and Advice Clinics are for pupils who appear to have significant speech, language and communication needs which are impacting on their access to the curriculum and ability to integrate with peers. It is anticipated that schools have followed the school aged SLCN pathways before making a referral.

If a referral is required, please ask your GP to complete a referral form and email it to: [email protected] .  Referral forms can be found here  and will be accepted from any GP in H&F, Westminster or K&C. GPs in other boroughs should refer to their local services. 

Following receipt of a referral form, the child/young person’s school will be asked to complete a teacher questionnaire with details of the impact of their speech, language or communication needs. When this information is received and reviewed, they will be offered and assessment and advice clinic appointment if appropriate.

The purpose of this appointment will be to assess their communication skills and provide advice on how to support communication development. A report outlining assessment results and advice given will be written following the appointment and sent to both parents and school.

Children and young people who are referred to the SLT assessment and advice clinics by their GP are generally seen in the school holidays when the clinics run.

Please be advised that we are able to offer an assessment and advice for your child however we are unable to commit to ongoing therapy.   

SLT Paediatric Dysphagia Service

The SLT Dysphagia service is for infants, children and young people who have eating drinking and swallowing difficulties within the inner London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. Infants under 6 months must have a GP in North Westminster and North Kensington and Chelsea, falling within the boundaries of the Woodfield Child Development Service  only . Infants under 6 months in Hammersmith & Fulham, South Kensington and Chelsea and South Westminster should be referred to the Paediatric SLT Team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. We do not see children who are fussy eaters or who have sensory issues around eating and drinking. 

We offer training to staff to support the safe management of children with eating, drinking and swallowing needs in schools and nurseries as well as individualised training to carry out eating, drinking and swallowing careplans. Please contact the central admin hub for information. 

More information can be found in the ‘ What to expect from our service for children with eating and drinking difficulties’ .

• What to expect from our service for children with eating and drinking difficulties 
• What to expect from a referral to videofluoroscopy swallow study 
• Eating, drinking and swallowing referral form  

Referrals and queries:

• Early Years Referral Form  
• School Age Referral Form  
• Eating, drinking and swallowing referral form

Completed referral forms should be printed and/or sent to:

Speech & Language Therapy and Integrated Care Admin Hub The Medical Centre 7e Woodfield Road London W9 3XZ Tel: 0207 266 8777 Email:  [email protected]

Sites and locations:

Please click here to see a list of sites and locations where paediatric speech and theraphy services are provided in the inner boroughs (Hammersmith and Fulham, Kesington and Chelsea and Westminster).

Toolkit of Resources

Videos & Resources for Parents/Carers

Hungry Little Minds

Hungry Little Minds is a campaign launched by the UK Department of Education to help promote what parents/carers can do to support their child’s communication and learning. The campaign offers parents and carers practical tips and strategies they can use every day to develop their child’s speaking, learning, listening and reading. Find out more here.

Creating Communication Supportive Spaces

This video from the Communication Trust gives examples of communication supportive spaces that help support your child's growing language skills. Click to watch here.

Still Face Experiment video

Watch the video to learn about the Still Face Experiment, conducted by Dr. Edward Tronick. This experiment demonstrates the link between a parent/carer's emotional behaviour and responsiveness, and their child's behaviour. Click to watch here.

Videos on Speech, Language and Communication Needs

Developmental Language Disorder:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nb0wNjI6jI&feature=emb_title

Stammering:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8xlNBmYdqQ&feature=emb_title

Alternative & Augmentative Communication:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4OL2bnSv3Q&feature=emb_title

Cleft Palate:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqaecZk-mlA&feature=emb_title

Swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTMMZ-Cr9EA&feature=emb_title

Hearing Impairment:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TrpOTZI4zs&feature=emb_title  &  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiKwROOiu2Dm8fph0F-prztKIEhrNjHDG 

Complex Needs:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuwm-dcTOSI&feature=emb_title

Websites for Parents/Carers

Glossary of Resources

Additude  has published  a guide on how to explain coronavirus to children with anxiety .

• The National Autistic Society  has put together  a list of activities that parents and carers of children with autism can try at home , including ideas for keeping children entertained and a list of indoor activities.
• Barnsley Education Inclusion Services  have compiled a  detailed guide to help parents/carers support their child's social communication and interaction needs during the COVID-19 pandemic .
• Undercover Autism  has published  an article on coping with anxiety caused by Coronavirus .
• The Association for Child and Adolescence Mental Health  have created  a podcast on how parents/carers of children with Autism can help address their concerns caused by COVID-19 .
• They have also published some  advice for parents on dealing with difficult behaviour during the lockdown period .
• CBeebies  use Pablo and his friends to help your child understand what it means when someone has Autism with animations

Cleft Lip & Palate

• Cleft Lip & Palate Association

Developmental Language Disorder

• Developmental Language Disorder: Raising Awareness of DLD (RADLD)
• The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne  has created  https://blogs.rch.org.au/neurodevelopment-and-disability/2020/04/13/face-covid/ .
• The  Council for Disabled Children  have put together some  broad ranging information on COVID-19 .
• Contact (charity for families with disabled children)
• National Deaf Children's society: the leading charity for deaf children
• Words For Life: the National Literacy Trust's website for parents
• Makaton: A language programme which uses signs, speech and symbols to support communication
• British Stammering Association
• Stammering: Tips and information for how you can help support people with a stammer

Tips for Early Years Talking

• Parent Activities:  ICAN's Talking Point  is a helpful tool for parents who are concerned about their child's development
• NSPCC's Look, Say, Sing Play shows you ways to build your baby/child's brain with simple activities , or watch on Youtube .
• The Communication Trust's resources for parents: supporting every child to communicate as best as they can
• Tiny Happy People: for ideas to develop your child's communication skills through play and interactions
• Afasic: a parent led organisation providing resources, information and support for children/young people with communication difficulties and their families
• Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice
• Communication Matters charity: increasing awareness and knowledge of those with communication difficulties
• LuCiD resources for parents/carers: The ESRC International Centre for Language and Communicative Development
• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Twitter: Follow our handle: @CLCH_SLT_CHD,  or commuication tips and sharing resources

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• School nursing

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Hertfordshire County Council has agreed to pay out £4,300 to a college student – after failing to provide her with speech and language therapy.

According to an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman the student should have received the speech and language support, as detailed in her Education Health and Care Plan.

According to the complaint, the student had not received the speech and language provision for more than three years. In the wake of the Ombudsman’s investigation, the county council has now agreed to pay the student £4300 – equivalent to £100 for every month since September 2020.

The council has also agreed to arrange for a speech and language assessment for her “without delay”.

And if that assessment finds further speech and language therapy is necessary, the council will make monthly payments of £100 – every month – until the first session is delivered. If the assessment finds the support is no longer necessary, the council will pay the student £100 a month until a decision is made.

According to the Ombudsman’s report, the student – who had complained that the council had not arranged any speech and language therapy since February 2020 – moved to a college in a different area in September 2020.

When she complained a year later (September 2021) that she had not received the therapy, the council provided her with £700 to cover the missed provision. That was to cover the period until January 2022 when new provision was due to be arranged.

When no provision was then put in place the student complained again in June and August 2023. The council then apologised – saying that it should have arranged alternative speech and language provision from September 2020.

The council also offered a further £300 for lost provision and £100 to recognise the trouble taken to complain, as well as the distress it caused. They said, in August 2023, a new assessment would be arranged.

However according to the Ombudsman’s report in February 2024 that assessment had not yet been organised. During the investigation the Ombudsman says the council had suggested that a report had suggested speech and language therapy was no longer required- and should not have been included in the EHCP.

The ombudsman said this bought into question the adequacy of the annual reviews for the students EHCP. Pointing to the matter being raised “repeatedly” with the council, the report states that this demonstrates the council has allowed the matter to “drift significantly”.

She says that during this period the loss of provision “is likely to have had a detrimental impact” on the student’s progress. In addition to the financial payment, the report says that the council has agreed to review its annual review process of EHCPs.

Following the publication of the Ombudsman’s report a spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council pointed to the increase in the number of children with EHCPs.

He highlighted ongoing investment and the planned increases in specialist school places.

“We take the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s findings very seriously and where they find we have been at fault, we work hard to understand why that has happened, how we can put it right and how we can prevent it happening again,” said the county council spokesperson.

“There are more than 36,500 children and young people identified in Hertfordshire schools as having SEND.

“Most children and young people with additional needs do not require an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) to access the support they need, as these are for those with the most complex needs, but we have seen a 223% increase in children and young people with EHCPs since 2015.

“We know that we’ve struggled to keep up with that increase and that’s why our SEND improvement is a key priority for both the county council and local NHS.

“We understand the issues faced by children, young people and their families in Hertfordshire and have already put in place a strong strategy to address this, including an additional ongoing £7million investment into statutory SEND services and expanding the number of new SEND school places by 1,000 between 2018 and 2026.”

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Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin warns Russia could provide long-range weapons to attack West - and issues new nuclear threat

Vladimir Putin has warned he could supply weapons to other nations to strike Western countries in a meeting with international journalists. The Russian president also reaffirmed the country's position on using nuclear weapons. Follow live updates below.

Thursday 6 June 2024 16:51, UK

• Putin warns Russia could provide long-range weapons to attack West
• Lavrov: French military instructors in Ukraine would be 'legitimate target'
• Ivor Bennett:  Why is Lavrov in Africa?
• Ukraine peace summit 'opens door to limited talks with Russia'
• Big picture:  Everything you need to know about the war right now
• Your questions answered: Are there any signs of an underground resistance in Russia?

That's it for our live coverage of the war in Ukraine for today.

You can scroll through the blog below to catch up on the day's developments.

By Nicole Johnston, Asia correspondent in Beijing

Putin's St Petersburg summit comes right out of the same playbook as China's President Xi Jinping.

So how do you get a read on China's geo-political thinking? One way is by wading through the dry and detailed pronouncements of its president, that's where the nuggets are.

In 2022, Xi said: "The world today is undergoing major changes, unseen in a century.

"The most important characteristic of the world is chaos and the trend is likely to continue."

In the world according to Xi, the time is right to reorder global governance with China at its pinnacle, where it belongs. His view is that the US anchored world order is breaking down.

Many countries in the global south are on board with China, chaffing at the dominance of the US led international system and ready to countenance a shake-up.

Russia is in lock step with China. 

Both countries need each other. Though Russia needs China more, for trade and diplomatic cover.

In this great power rivalry, the China-Russian axis could draw in other regional disrupters like Iran and North Korea.

If that happens it will be a formidable alliance based on hostility towards the US, sympathy for Russia, a deep fear of subversion and in the case of China, a relentless goal to unify with Taiwan.

Ukraine's main hydropower company says it has initiated proceedings to secure damages for Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka dam and power station a year ago today.

State-run Ukrhydroenergo said it estimates the damage to be around €2.5bn (£2.12bn).

The explosion of the dam on 6 June 2023 - which sent huge amounts of water across swathes of southern Ukraine and left thousands of people without drinking water - was met with global outcry and accusations of a war crime.

"The company's actions aim to compensate for the losses caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant," Ukrhydroenergo said in a statement. 

"The company believes that initiating international arbitration process is the most promising way to compensate for the losses." 

The firm said Vladimir Putin, his government and other authorised bodies had been informed.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska have arrived in Normandy for an event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

French President Emmanuel Macron greeted the Ukrainian leader with a hug as he arrived, and the president was applauded as he went to take his place inside the event.

Several other political figures including UK defence minister Grant Shapps embraced Mr Zelenskyy as they greeted him.

Earlier, the Ukrainian president said he was "honoured" to participate in the anniversary event and said he would also take part in "important events and meetings aimed at strengthening our country".

"This event and day serve as a reminder of the courage and determination demonstrated in the pursuit of freedom and democracy," he said.

"Allies defended Europe's freedom then, and Ukrainians do so now. Unity prevailed then, and true unity can prevail today."

Earlier today we reported claims by Russian officials that Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery and fuel depot in Russian border regions.

Rostov regional governor Vasily Golubev said an overnight drone attack struck the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, causing a fire to erupt. 

Meanwhile the governor for Belgorod, a Russian border region which has come under frequent Ukrainian fire during the war, said a drone hit an oil depot and caused an explosion.

No casualties were reported in either attack.

The trial of a US soldier accused of stealing is under way in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok.

Staff Sergeant Gordon Black flew to the city to see his girlfriend last month but was arrested after she accused him of stealing from her, US and Russian officials said.

The 34-year-old, who was on leave at the time, faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.

The US army said the soldier had not been given official clearance to travel to Russia's far east.

According to Russian news agency RIA, Sgt Black will give evidence during the trial and respond to the allegations against him.

He has been cooperating with authorities, the report said.

Following today's court session, Sgt Black's girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, told reporters "it was a simple domestic dispute" during which the soldier "became aggressive and attacked" her.

"He then stole money from my wallet and I didn't give him permission to do it," she said.

Joe Biden has just addressed the crowds at the US national D-Day commemoration in Normandy, alongside French president Emmanuel Macron.

The US president began with a retelling of the devastation and evil unleashed on the world by Hitler and told the stories of some veterans in the audience.

"Every one of them knew the probability of dying was real, but they did it anyway," he said.

Mr Biden prayed that America never forgets the importance of alliances, noting NATO as the "greatest military alliance in the history of the world".

"Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago, and it is not the answer today," he said.

"We know the dark forces that these heroes fought against 80 years ago, they never fade." 

He added: "The struggle between dictatorship and freedom is unending. Here in Europe we see one stark example. Ukraine has been invaded by a tyrant bent on domination."

Mr Biden continued: "Make no mistake, the autocrats of the world are watching closely.

"To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators, is simply unthinkable. Were we to do that, it means we would be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches.

"History tells us that freedom is not free: If you want to know the price of freedom, come here to Normandy and look."

Russia has detained a French national on suspicion of collecting information on Russian military activity, investigators have said.

The man had visited the country repeatedly over several years, Russia's Investigative Committee said.

He's also said to have held meetings with Russian citizens.

The man has not been named.

The outcome of the US election this November is unlikely to have any impact on Washington's policy towards Russia, Vladimir Putin has said.

In comments cited by the Russian embassy in the UK, the Russian president said the Kremlin does "not think there will be any serious changes".

"You know perfectly well that the current developments in the US are political infighting; they are burning themselves out, their state and their political system," he said.

Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump are their parties' presumptive nominees for the looming election.

Several polls are putting Trump ahead of Mr Biden, despite his recent criminal conviction.

Earlier this year, Mr Putin said he would prefer to see Mr Biden re-elected to the White House as he is "more experienced". 

But he has also enjoyed a previous good relationship with Trump, who has often praised his leadership. 

Hungary will attend a Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland next week despite Budapest strengthening its ties with Moscow.

Foreign minister Peter Szijjarto confirmed at an economic forum in St Petersburg that his country would be represented at the summit on 15 June.

The summit is aimed at building support among dozens of countries for a 10-point peace proposal from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which includes Russian troops fully withdrawing from Ukrainian territory.

Russia has not been invited, and has branded it a waste of time.

Hungary, an EU and NATO member, has often pushed back against sending Western aid to Ukraine and has been critical of sanctions on Russia.

Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral ties during a meeting in October.

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