How to choose a speech and language therapist for your child with SEND: A guide for parents and carer

with Gillian Rudd, speech and language therapist and senior lecturer at Birmingham City University,

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Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are the most common issues experienced by children, especially in primary settings. Your child’s school should be able to put in some early help learned from various classroom intervention programmes. But SLCN also incorporates difficulties with eating, drinking, and swallowing, and so you may find it useful to talk to a speech and language therapist (SLT).

While the school should call in the LA’s SLT specialists when needed, they are in short supply. You may wish to self-refer to the local NHS SLT service or ask to be referred by a healthcare professional. If your budget allows, you can also opt to appoint an independent SLT specialist to conduct an assessment.

But how do you find the right one? Our post today is from Gillian Rudd, Senior Lecturer and Joint Course Lead for the MSc Speech and Language Therapy course at Birmingham City University’s Department of Health and Social Care Professions. She is here with a guide for parents and carers

Choosing the right speech and language therapist for your child with additional needs by Gillian Rudd, Birmingham City University

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) provide support to individuals of all ages who present with communication difficulties or disabilities, and/or eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. They can support children and young people who present with specific communication and swallowing difficulties, e.g.:

Developmental language disorder (DLD)
Speech sound disorders, including childhood apraxia of speech
Stammering
Dysphagia
Cleft lip and palate

Additionally, those presenting with communication and eating and drinking difficulties associated with:

neurodivergence (e.g. autism, ADHD and/or learning disability)
other presentations (e.g. physical disability, deaf blindness and childhood cancers)
progressive conditions (e.g. childhood dementia and muscular dystrophy).

Who needs a speech and language therapist?

Not all children with the above presentations will require input from a speech and language therapist. An individual needs-based assessment involving discussion with parents and other partners (including the child and young person as much as possible) is therefore essential. Rather than being a ‘one-off’ service, SLTs may work with people at multiple stages of their lives, providing support through assessment, information, advice, intervention and advocacy.

You can access SLT either via the NHS and/or privately.

NHS speech and language therapy (SLT)

Many SLT services accept direct referrals, meaning it is possible for parents to refer their child. Unfortunately, there is no central directory for services, so finding your local one can isn’t always easy. A good starting point can be to carry out an online search, e.g. ‘children’s NHS speech and language therapy Birmingham’. Alternatively, ask other health or education professionals involved with your child (e.g. teachers, G.P., health visitors) to make a referral or to share the contact details for the local service with you. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) list additional contacts, including links to central portals for Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

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Private speech and language therapy (SLT)

If you’re looking for a private (also known as an independent) SLT, the best place to start is the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP). All ASLTIP members are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (the regulatory body) and RCSLT (the professional body). Using the ‘Find an SLT’ function, you can search the directory of therapists by postcode, age range, languages, distance and services offered to generate a list of therapists who meet your requirements.

Many SLTs offer a free introductory phone or video call, which will help you check that they are right for you and your child. During this initial contact it’s important that you to share information about your child, your concerns and what you are hoping for from therapy sessions.

Questions you might ask

Every conversation between a parent and SLT will be unique. However, I think it’s useful to think about three broad areas for discussion: 1) approach, 2) training, and 3) practicalities. Below I have listed some questions that might fall under each category – these aren’t meant to be worked through in order (that might take longer than a short chat!) but I hope it will provide a starting point for you to think about the topics and issues that matter to you most.

Approach: Do they work in a way that aligns with the needs and values of your family?

How do they describe their approach to working with children and families generally?
What do they say they could offer you and your child specifically?
How would they describe best practice in the area(s) relevant to your child?
How do they work with other professionals?

Training: What specialist knowledge and experience do they bring to the table?

When did they train as a SLT? Where have they worked since and in what roles?
What additional training have they accessed related to the difficulties that your child is experiencing?
What specialist groups, networks and organisations are they a part of?
What supervision arrangements do they have in place? (SLTs should regularly access supervision as per guidance from HCPC)

Practicalities: Will what they offer align your circumstances and needs?

Do they have a waiting list for assessment and/or therapy?
When do they work? (Which days and hours?)
What are their fees and payment terms? (E.g. do you need to pay in advance? Do they have a flat rate or varying charges for different activities?) If relevant to you, do they accept health insurance?
Where can sessions take place? (Does the therapist have their own base? Can they do home visits? Will they visit other settings (e.g. school?))
Is there a limit to how far/where they will travel? How much do they charge for travel?

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Reach out: You’re not alone

Navigating systems and services can be challenging. Charities and not-for-profit organisations can be an invaluable additional source of support, providing information and guidance about what’s available in your area and how to access services. Recommended organisations focusing specifically on supporting children and young people with communication differences, difficulties and disabilities include:

1Voice organise social events for individuals and families in England who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Ace Centre support individuals across England with complex communication difficulties, offering assessment and training and providing Assistive Technology and AAC.
Afasic provide information and support to children with communication needs in England and Scotland. They offer a parents’ telephone helpline, a DLD Together Training course and School Transition Courses.
Speech and Language UK provide information and support for families across the UK. You can book a confidential 30-minute telephone call with a speech and language advisor; they also offer free recorded webinars and a resource library.
STAMMA support individuals of all ages who stammer and offer a range of family support services, including parent support groups and workshops, a Minecraft club, and support via webchat, helpline and email.

About Gillian Rudd

Gillian Rudd is a speech and language therapist and senior lecturer at Birmingham City University, where she co-leads the pre-registration MSc Speech and Language Therapy course. Before joining the University, Gillian worked with children, young people and families in a range of community settings, including homes, schools and clinics. She continues to practise on a consultancy basis. Gillian specialises in supporting children and adults who stammer and was a Trustee for STAMMA (a charity supporting people of all ages who stammer) between 2018-2024. Since 2024, she has been a Trustee for the Lily Mae Foundation, a charity based in the West Midlands that supports families following the loss of a baby.

Gillian has also worked with parent partners, adults with lived experience, and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists on a number of initiatives, including the #FundSLT and #InvestInSLT campaigns. In June 2025, she gave evidence to the Modernisation Committee on behalf of the Inclusive Parliament coalition Gillian is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Health Practice, with a focus on ‘Waiting and Access in Therapy: Understanding Perspectives in Speech and Language Therapy’. Outside of work, Gillian is a parent to two children, one at nursery and one in primary school. She is also a carer and attorney for an adult family member who has a learning disability.

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Special Needs Jungle was founded in 2008 as a personal SEN blog by Tania Tirraoro. It is now a multi-author, award-winning site covering special needs, disability, mental health and rare conditions in children & young people birth-25 years.

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