Families come to speech and language therapy either because they have concerns or because someone else has mentioned a concern such as preschool. Sometimes an assessment is needed and sometimes a little more time or some general advice is all that is needed. If you are unsure if your child needs an assessment Little Words can provide a free telephone consultation to talk about your concerns and possible next steps.

The appointment is an opportunity for you to talk about your concerns and also for the therapist to work with your child. It is important to get this balance of time right and the therapist will support you with this. It can be helpful to have a list of information you would like to share including your concerns, and a list of other professionals who are working with your child. Sometimes children take time to settle into an appointment and therapists are very used to managing this. It can be helpful to have a conversation before the appointment to know what your child likes to play with and things that are less interesting to them. Having a video of you interacting and playing with your child can also be helpful to share with the therapist.

Don’t despair, every child is different. It’s important not to put too much pressure on your child before the appointment. As parents we want to get the most out of an appointment but meeting someone new can be worrying for children. Before the appointment it can be helpful to talk with your child and explain that you are going to meet X to have a play, explain that the therapist will have toys and games to show. Sometimes children take time to settle into an appointment and therapists are very used to managing this. For some children not engaging can be part of their communication profile. We can talk about what next if your child does not engage in the session.

Recommendations for other referrals such as a hearing test (Audiology) may be made as part of the appointment. Often these referrals can be made by parents, Health Visitors, GP or your child’s education setting. Where recommendations are made signposting as to how to arrange these referrals will also be given. In most cases referrals can be made within the NHS or Local Education Authorities.

Every child is entitled to NHS Speech and Language Therapy services as long as they meet the local NHS services criteria. To find out if you are eligible you can speak to your local service, some have adviceline numbers you can call, your Health Visitor, GP or Educational Setting SENCo will also be able to advise you. Many NHS Speech and Language Therapy Services have an open referral system meaning that parents as well as professionals can make a referral. Some families require additional Speech and Language Therapy services for a variety of reasons and seek support from Independent Speech and Language Therapists. The Health Care Professions Council requires that all speech and language therapists work in partnership with colleagues, both within and outside the profession, in the best interest of service-users. Therefore, it is in the best interests of your child to allow Independent and NHS Speech and Language Therapists to liaise. Having Independent speech and language therapy will not prevent your child from accessing what they are entitled to on the NHS. If you are concerned do speak to your NHS and Independent Speech and Language Therapists.

Appointments can be cancelled up to 24 hours before. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice may be charged at the full rate. Please do contact Little Words as soon as you know that you cannot attend. If the therapist cancels an appointment no charge will be made and where possible another appointment will be offered.

You can withdraw from Little Words Speech and Language Therapies care at any point. To withdraw you will need to provide 7 days’ notice. If the therapist considers there to be any risk in withdrawing intervention this will be discussed with you to allow you to make an informed decision.

Confidential information about your child including their name, DOB, address, medical history and records of their speech and language therapy interventions are kept by Little Words. These records are held securely and in line with regulations. Please see privacy policy for further details.

You can access your child’s records held by Little Words. If you require a copy of your child’s record this can be requested by writing to the address below and requesting a copy. A copy will be provided within 30 days of the request being made.