I work closely with families to ensure that they are confident to support their own child’s learning and language development. When parents have access to relevant information and feel confident in their own skills, this has a positive and lasting impact on their child’s progress. I strongly believe in early intervention and encourage parents to get in touch for advice, rather than taking a “wait and see” approach to their child’s speech and language development.
I have many years of experience working with Early Years professionals in nurseries and pre-schools and I really enjoy working collaboratively to support children in their education settings. I can provide face to face support (working directly with children and staff). I also offer individualised training sessions at your setting at a time to suit staff.
Pre-schools and nurseries can apply for Inclusion Funding (SENIF or SENIF+) or Disability Access Fund (DAF) to provide support for groups of children and individual children with speech, language and communication needs in their setting (with evidence of the child’s difficulties). Please get in touch to find out more about how this could work in your setting.
Click on the tabs to find out more information about my interventions:
Initial Assessments
Initial Assessments (60-90 minutes) – £125
These fun and enjoyable sessions are usually undertaken at home. For younger children, assessment always involves play. Observing your child play allows me to gain a deep understanding of how they are learning and communicating, the level of their attention, assess their understanding of what is said to them, as well as listen to their expressive language (talking) and speech clarity.
The session will include:
Talking to parents about their concerns
A play based assessment of your child’s speech, language and communication skills. A formal assessment may also be used, if appropriate
Immediate verbal feedback about the assessment
Discussion and agreement regarding next steps and recommendations
A summary report can be written for an additional cost (£85).
Parent-Child Early Language Therapy (Therapy for children who are late talkers)
Parent and Child Early Language Therapy – price per session £125
Therapy sessions are focused on supporting parents to learn how to help their child’s speech, language and communication skills. It is a short term programme for children who are late talkers. Video is used as a way to reflect on the child’s skills through play. It is based on principles from the Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk and VERVE programmes, but will be tailored to you and your child’s unique relationship. Following the session parents are sent the video as well as a written summary of the observations made and goals to practise. Five home sessions are usually recommended. Following the intervention, a nursery visit can be arranged (if required) and a full report can be written, which can be shared with other professionals involved in your child’s care. Review sessions can be scheduled at longer intervals.
Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy
Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT)
PACT is an evidence-based intervention which uses video feedback with parents/teachers as a way to develop the social communication skills of young children with autism and those with social communication difficulties. Video is used to help parents/carers to recognise and respond to their child’s communication signals. This builds connection and supports interactions in everyday life. This is an intensive therapy programme delivered fortnightly for 12 sessions.
More information is available using the links below:
Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) – Face to face visits £1980
This package is delivered at your home over 12 sessions. The package includes all of the support you and your child will need for 6 months.
The cost of the package is £1980. A payment of £165 is due every home visit date. The package includes:
12 x 90 minute sessions with me at your home
A report following every visit which reflects on the skills observed and summarises the agreed actions/goals for parents to work towards in the two weeks in between the appointments
A full and detailed report following the intervention
Travel (within 10 miles of Market Harborough)
The provision of visual resources (e.g. now and next, choices boards etc. needed within the 6 month intervention period)
Liaison with parents/nursery staff/other professionals outside appointment times (maximum 6 hours)
Therapist planning, preparation and administration associated with the intervention.
Training/Support for Nurseries and Pre-schools
Packages for pre-schools, nurseries and child-minders (training or direct support in the setting) – £130 per hour
Examples of what can be offered include:
One-off or regular visits to a setting to work with a small group of children and provision of verbal and written recommendations. Monthly visits to setting are recommended. Most setting visits are 3 hours (depending on the number of children in setting). Inclusion Funding can be used to support children with speech, language and communication difficulties by applying to the County Council.
One-off or regular visits to a setting to support an individual child. This can be paid for by parents or funding can be applied for via the County Council if the child meets the criteria for enhanced provision. Monthly visits are recommended.
A visit to setting to discuss ways to adapt the environment to support the speech and language development of children attending the setting (using principles from the Communication Friendly Spaces approach and Hanen: Learning language and Loving It)
Training for Early Years professionals on topics such as: how speech and language develops and ways to help and how to support children with complex communication needs. Bespoke training packages can be arranged to meet the needs of children in the setting, e.g. using Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) (e.g. using pictures, communication boards and books), Gestalt Language Processing, Embedding Visual Support in Early Years Settings (e.g. now and next boards) and Understanding Autism.
Support, Liaison and Reports
As part of my role, I can help to support you with information sharing, referrals on to other organisations, preparation for meetings, understanding and navigating the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process and your child’s transition to school.
You can request a report following an assessment or therapy intervention with your child. These may be simple reports which include a summary of the achievements over a course of therapy and recommendations for the next steps for your child.
For children with more complex difficulties, reports will take longer (often 2-3 hours). These reports are in depth and individualised for your child. They are useful for you and the other professionals who are involved in your child’s care. These reports can be submitted as evidence towards an Education Health Care Plan.
Please note that I do not write reports for EHC Plans (i.e. once this has been agreed and professional advice has been requested about frequency/type of Speech and Language Therapy required). I do not offer medico-legal assessments or reports or offer tribunal support, e.g. as an expert witness.
