Frequently Asked Questions

Core Speech works with children and young people between 1-18 years and up to 25 years if they are in a Specialist Education setting. Whilst we don’t have any specific age limits, we advise you to contact us to discuss your child’s specific needs to see if we can help. If Core Speech are unable to support you, we will always endeavour to signpost you to alternative services.

It’s completely natural to wonder whether your child is developing communication skills in the expected timeframe. Whilst there are general milestones that can give a sense of what’s ‘typical’ at different ages, it’s important to remember that each and every child is unique and on their own individual language development journey.

The Speech and Language UK website has information on communication skills that develop at different ages, from birth to 18+ years.

Their website can be found here: https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/help-for-families/ages-and-stages/

If you’re feeling unsure or worried about your child’s communication development, a Speech and Language Therapy assessment can help you to get a better understanding of your child’s strengths and and areas where they might benefit from some extra support. Working with a Speech and Language Therapist gives you a tailored insight into your child’s communication - rather than trying to compare them to general milestones that might not necessarily reflect their individual pace or personality.

Yes. All our initial assessments include a report which provides thorough information on the informal and/or standardised assessment(s) completed with examples of the child’s performance in each area, diagnoses provided (if appropriate), proposed treatment goals (if appropriate) and recommendations made.

We understand that some children may require a more complex assessment and therefore a more detailed report. For example, if a child required multiple standardised assessments to be administered to gather information about their communication and feeding skills. In these cases, we will discuss this with your prior to completing the assessment and writing a report to confirm any additional charges that may be required. Information about the fees for reports can be provided on request.

When you book in for an initial assessment, you will be sent several electronic forms to complete. Core Speech uses WriteUpp as our clinical records management software; therefore, all our electronic forms are sent through WriteUpp. You will need to complete the following forms in advance:

• Consent Form

• Intake Form

• Terms & Conditions

It is also recommended that you:

• Provide copies of any letters or reports from other therapists currently supporting your child via email to Core Speech.

• Make a list of questions that you have to ask the therapist.

• Take videos of your child playing and communicating if there is a chance that they may be quiet and reserved on the day of the assessment.

We know that meeting a new Speech and Language Therapist can be difficult for some children. We have produced a Social Story that can be read to children in advance of their appointment to help them understand what is happening. We have also provided photographs of Emma that can be added to visual schedules if these are currently used by your child. These can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.

Every child is their own unique person and subsequently requires individualised therapy recommendations. Following the initial assessment, you will be informed if direct  therapy is recommended to support any identified needs and difficulties. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict how many sessions a child will require in order to meet their long-term goals. We recommend accessing a block of therapy sessions, and collaboratively with your therapist continuously monitoring your child’s progress to determine the most appropriate next steps. 

We appreciate that therapy can be a big investment for families and strive on working flexibly to support you in accessing our services helping your child to Learn, Grow and Thrive.

A child’s therapy goals and progress are regularly discussed with parents to ensure that the child’s needs are best being met. Progress reports can be provided on request for an additional charge. These can be useful to share with school or other professionals supporting the child following completion of a block of therapy sessions (e.g., 6-10 sessions).

Please see the Fees section on our website to download a copy of our current Fee Schedule.

Fees for bespoke services (e.g., school training sessions) can be provided on request. Please discuss any requirements you may have with us and we will be happy to provide you with a quote.

Yes.

Core Speech will work collaboratively with your child’s NHS SALT to ensure their needs are best met. Core Speech advocates for all children who require support with their communication and feeding to receive NHS SALT services; however, we acknowledge that some local areas have long waiting lists. Core Speech can support your family whilst you wait to access NHS SALT services or provide additional support in between your NHS therapy sessions as a ‘boost’.

Yes.

Core Speech can liaise with your child’s school teacher through email or phone calls, as well as attend meetings in person or virtually (e.g., via zoom).

Fees for attending meetings, such as EHCP annual reviews and school transitions can be provided on request.