Speech and language therapy for children

Children could have difficulties with their communication due to:

• Language delay
• Developmental language disorder
• Autism/social interaction difficulties
• Specific difficulties in producing sounds
• Hearing Impairment
• Cleft palate
• Stammering
• Voice disorders
• Selective mutism
• Feeding and swallowing difficulties
• Mild, moderate or severe learning difficulties
• Physical disabilities

The speech and language therapy service here provides a service to schools in Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. The school aged service is for pupils who have significant speech, language and communication needs.

The community education speech and language therapy service has recently completed a period of service redesign and development. Our speech and language education service work closely with schools. 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.

The following services are provided in these boroughs:

• Community early years speech and language therapy services
• Community education speech and language therapy services

Helpful information

• Eating and drinking difficulties
• What to expect from our service
• Directions to Cheyne

For more information about the services provided, please contact your local clinic.

Inclusion criteria for our community early years’ service:

• A service for children up to the age of five years or the term before they start school (whichever is sooner) who have identified or suspected speech and language difficulties.
• The child needs to have a GP and home address within the tri-borough or Merton area.

Exclusion criteria for our community early years’ service:

• Any child over five years of age or in school (whichever is soonest)
• If a child’s GP/address is not within the tri-borough or Merton area.

Our paediatric speech and language therapist teams are running a series of drop-ins for parents and carers on the topics of: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Developmental Language Disorder and Makaton.

Running throughout the year at a range of locations across Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, please click on the links below to find out what is happening near you and when. 

These informative workshops are for parents/carers of children under the age of five years. You do not need to reserve a place, but please arrive promptly if you are attending. There are no crèches available. Please do not bring your child with you.

"Parent workshops for children with social communication difficulties (SCD)/autism spectrum disorder (ASD)" - further information and dates can be found here (PDF)

These two hour workshops are for parents/carers whose child under the age of five years has received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or where there are concerns around social communication skills. The workshops are repeated throughout the year in different locations.

“Understanding Developmental Language Disorder” - further information and dates can be found here (PDF)

Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a condition where children have problems understanding and/or using spoken language. There is no obvious reason for these difficulties, for example, there is no hearing problem or physical disability that explains them. These two hour workshops are for parents/carers whose child under the age of five years has developmental language disorder. The workshops are run by early years speech and language therapists.

Makaton Taster Sessions - further information and dates can be found here (PDF)

These 90 minute workshops are for parents/carers with a child under the age of five years who would like to learn about Makaton. The workshops are run by an early years speech and language therapist.

• Makaton training for parents leaflet (PDF)

See also:

• SLT drop-in sessions (2018) - PDF
• Early Years Speech and Language Therapy Service Foundation and Advanced Training Courses Booking Form (Word doc)
• Advanced training: communication partners - developing language skills in small groups (level 1) - PDF
• Advanced training: communication partners - developing language skills in small groups (level 2) - PDF
• Foundation Training - this one day course will provide early years practitioners with an overview of speech, language and communication (SLCN) development from birth to five years - PDF

Further information and dates are available below regarding SLT training (called 'learning workshops').

These workshops are on offer to staff who work in mainstream schools across Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham. 

• Introduction to language for thinking - all dates (PDF)
• Introduction to blank levels - all dates (PDF)
• Lego therapy - all dates (PDF)
• Narrative skills (KS2) - all dates (PDF)
• Secondary strategies - all dates (PDF)
• Self-help skills - all dates (PDF)
• Using colour-coding to support language (PDF)
• Using visuals in the classroom (PDF)
• Vocabulary learning (PDF)

Parsons Green Health Centre

Parkview Centre for Health And Wellbeing

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

World’s End Health Centre

Colville Health Centre

Westminster, The Medical Centre

Bessborough Street Clinic