The Speech and Language Service supports children and young people from birth to 19, or 25 if they have an Education Health Care Plan, who have speech, language, communication, or swallowing difficulties.

We have specialist and generalist therapists and therapy assistants who work with children with speech, language, and communication needs in the following areas:

  • autistic spectrum disorders
  • learning disabilities
  • physical disabilities (including providing communication aids)
  • dysphagia (swallowing)
  • specific speech and language impairments
  • dysfluency (stammering)
  • voice disorders
  • cleft lip/palate
  • speech and language delay
  • hearing impairment

How do I refer my child?

The Speech and Language Service has an open referral system. Referrals can be made by doctors, health, education and social care professionals, as well as carers, young people, and their parents or carers.

If you want to refer your child, call 01642 944488 or email stees.youngpeoplespeechtherapy@nhs.net and we’ll help you to make a referral. Alternatively, you can ask a professional like a teacher, Health Visitor, or GP to make a referral for you.

Referral forms are available for professionals.

What should I expect from a Speech and Language appointment?

We could see your child in school, come to visit you at home, or invite you to come to us at one of our clinic bases. If you need an interpreter during your appointment, please let us know and we can arrange for this.

If you’re present at the appointment, we’ll ask you some questions about your child. If we see your child in school and you’re not present, we might contact you afterwards by phone to ask you these questions.

We’ll ask things like:

  • were any difficulties during the pregnancy with your child or their birth?
  • do you have any other concerns about your child’s development, for example their walking and feeding skills?
  • when did your child start to make sounds and when did they say their first word (if these things have happened yet)?
  • what worries you about your child’s speech and language skills?

Based on the information you give us and the information included in the referral, we’ll do some assessments with your child. Depending on their age and the things you’re worried about, this might be:

  • by playing with them
  • by asking them to look at some pictures and assessment books
  • by asking you to play with your child, so we can see how they respond with a familiar adult

Please don’t worry if you think your child will be very shy during their appointment. We’re used to this and will do our best to make the appointment a fun and relaxed session!

When we’ve assessed your child, we’ll discuss the next steps with you. We might:

  • give you and your child’s school or nursery some advice, and arrange to review your child at a later date to check on their progress
  • discharge your child from our service, if we do not think they would benefit from our involvement at this time
  • put your child on a waiting list for direct therapy sessions, which may be delivered by one of our Assistant Practitioners
  • arrange to see your child for further assessment at another time