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Speech and Language Therapy

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You are here: Home / Services / Speech and Language Therapy

We work with families and children from 2 years 6 months to support speech, language and communication, as well as eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. We also support children and young people up to 18 who stammer, or who have an acquired brain injury or a changing medical condition, helping you understand their needs and get the right support at school. For some children already seen by Developmental Paediatrics, we provide assessment to help plan the right support through an Education Health and Care Plan.

This service helps with...

Two children sit indoors, with one reading a book while the other looks on. Two children sit indoors, with one reading a book while the other looks on.

Attention and Listening
Adult pointing to alphabet letters while a child learns. Adult pointing to alphabet letters while a child learns.

Bilingualism and My Child’s Communication
Close-up of an eye chart with black letters and a hand pointing at the top row with a wooden pointer. Close-up of an eye chart with black letters and a hand pointing at the top row with a wooden pointer.

Helping My Child with Speech Sounds
A young child kneels on the floor, opening a wooden cabinet door indoors. A young child kneels on the floor, opening a wooden cabinet door indoors.

Keeping Your Child Safe
Two young children sit at a small table playing with building blocks. Two young children sit at a small table playing with building blocks.

Learning Through Play
Women holding up a letter card for children sitting on the floor. Women holding up a letter card for children sitting on the floor.

Preparing My Child’s Communication Skills for Starting School
A baby holds a small red object to one ear, as if listening. A baby holds a small red object to one ear, as if listening.

Remembering Things That Have Just Been Said
Little boy writing on a notebook at a table. Little boy writing on a notebook at a table.

Speech, Language and Communication Development
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Staying Safe at Christmas
Sunlit countryside with a large tree on a hillside, fields, and misty hills in the distance. Sunlit countryside with a large tree on a hillside, fields, and misty hills in the distance.

Staying Safe in Autumn
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Staying Safe in Spring
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Staying Safe in Summer
A snowy winter landscape with frosted trees and a pale, cloudy sky. A snowy winter landscape with frosted trees and a pale, cloudy sky.

Staying Safe in Winter
A child sits on a sofa using a tablet, with a teddy bear beside them and digital icons overlaid on the screen. A child sits on a sofa using a tablet, with a teddy bear beside them and digital icons overlaid on the screen.

Staying Safe Online
A young child sits on grass holding an apple beside a dog lying among autumn leaves. A young child sits on grass holding an apple beside a dog lying among autumn leaves.

Staying Safe With Dogs
Adult talking to a child while the child touches their throat. Adult talking to a child while the child touches their throat.

Supporting My Child Who Doesn’t Talk in Some Situations
Adult interacting with a baby sitting on the floor Adult interacting with a baby sitting on the floor

Supporting My Child’s Early Communication Skills
An adult holds up a card while a child sits on the floor practising mouth movements during a speech activity. An adult holds up a card while a child sits on the floor practising mouth movements during a speech activity.

Supporting My Child’s Fluency
Five children stand in a circle outdoors, playing a hand game together on the grass Five children stand in a circle outdoors, playing a hand game together on the grass

Supporting My Child’s Social Communication Skills
Adult showing alphabet cards to children sitting on the floor Adult showing alphabet cards to children sitting on the floor

Supporting My Child’s Understanding of Language
A child holds word and letter cards, pointing to the word ‘door’ during a learning activity at a table. A child holds word and letter cards, pointing to the word ‘door’ during a learning activity at a table.

Supporting My Child’s Use of Words, Phrases and Sentences
A baby sits in a high chair while an adult holds a spoon and feeds them. A baby sits in a high chair while an adult holds a spoon and feeds them.

Swallowing, Eating and Drinking
A person in a textured sweater uses a smartphone while sitting near a window. A person in a textured sweater uses a smartphone while sitting near a window.

Using Apps to Support My Child’s Communication
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Verbal Reasoning, Prediction, Inference and Problem Solving
Wooden letter tiles scattered across a wooden surface, with space left clear in the centre. Wooden letter tiles scattered across a wooden surface, with space left clear in the centre.

Vocabulary and Concepts
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Voice Quality

About the team

We are a team of speech and language therapists and speech and language therapy assistants who work with you and your child. We assess your child’s speech, language, communication, and eating or drinking needs, set goals, and give you advice on how to support them, including through activities, therapy sessions, and workshops. We work with other professionals and help you build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to support your child every day.

Who this service is for

We can usually help if:

  • Your child is more than 2 years 6 months old, they have not started school and there are concerns regarding speech, language and communication needs
  • Your child is aged 2 years 6 months – 18 years of age and they have a stammer
  • Your child has feeding difficulties associated with additional complex medical needs ie atypical neurological presentation, possible syndrome, acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, cardiac issues, prematurity, respiratory issues
  • Your child has recently been discharged from hospital with feeding issues and a naso gastric (ng) tube in situ
  • Your child has frequent chest infections and there are concerns about the safety of their swallow

We may not be the right service if:

  • Your child has already started school and there are concerns regarding their speech, language or social communication skills, please discuss your concerns with your school SENCO who will advise you of the next steps
  • Your child is aged 2 years 6 months until they start school and it has been identified that they are Deaf; this is affecting both ears and there are no other medical conditions associated with this Please contact speechandlanguageservice@surreycc.gov.uk
  • Your child is school aged and the concerns are regarding their understanding and use of language or their speech sounds, please discuss your concerns with your school SENCO who will advise you of the next steps
  • Your child cannot eat age-appropriate textures
  • Your child refuses age-appropriate textures
  • Your child has primarily sensory issues e,g, dislike or seeking touch of textures
  • You are very anxious (worried) about how your child is feeding but none of the ‘we can usually help’ criteria is met
  • Your child is not following weight/height centiles for their age
  • Your child does not have enough wet nappies or pass enough urine
  • Your child has issues with constipation

Getting help from this service

Self-referral (digital)

Request help online.

Request help from this service

Questions and answers

What happens at the first appointment?
We will ask about your concerns and your child’s development. We will watch how your child communicates or eats and drinks. We may do simple activities to help us understand their needs.
Do I need to bring anything to the appointment?
It helps to bring any reports or information about your child. You can also bring a list of your questions or concerns. If you do not have anything, you can still come.
What will you do to help my child?
We will talk with you about your child’s needs and give advice and simple strategies to try at home. We may give you activities to practice together. We will explain what support may happen next.
What happens after the appointment?
We will agree next steps with you. This may include a programme to follow at home, more sessions, or advice only. We will also write a report to share with other people who support your child.
How long will I have to wait for support?
This depends on your child’s needs and the type of support they need. We will explain the next steps and any waiting times. You can contact us if you have questions.

Locations

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Surrey Child and Family
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