Speech, Language and Communication Needs for Children without EHCPs
Unlocking Language is dedicated to supporting children's communication development, regardless of whether they have an educational health care plan. With bespoke approaches and expertise, we understand and address each child's unique speech and language communication needs (SLCN).
Every child deserves the opportunity to express themselves and connect with the world around them. However, some children face challenges in developing the necessary skills to communicate effectively. SLCN, or Speech, Language and Communication Needs, refers to difficulties that can affect the way children understand, express, or both understand and express their thoughts and feelings. These challenges can affect their ability to interact socially, perform academically, and express their thoughts and feelings.
At Unlocking Languages, we offer specialised services to help children with SLCN navigate these challenges. By providing targeted support and intervention, speech and language therapy helps children develop the skills they need to communicate more effectively, enhancing their confidence and independence.
Our team adopts a family-centered approach, working collaboratively with parents and caregivers to ensure that therapy is effective and supportive. We believe in empowering families with the knowledge and tools they need to support their child’s communication journey.
Empowering Confidence
Common Communication Challenges in Children
SLCN can manifest in various ways in children, and the signs can vary based on the child’s age, the severity of the challenge, and the specific area of speech or language affected. Some common ways SLCN might appear include:
Delayed Speech: A child may speak later than their peers or use fewer words and simpler sentences than expected for their age.
Difficulty Understanding: They might often ask for repetitions, misunderstand instructions, or appear to ignore what’s being said to them.
Difficulty in Forming Sounds: They might mispronounce words or omit certain sounds, making their speech hard to understand.
Limited Vocabulary: Using a restricted set of words or frequently using unspecific language like “thing” or “stuff.”
Grammatical Issues: Difficulty using or understanding complex grammar structures, such as past tense or plurals.
Social Communication Challenges: Problems with understanding and using language in different social situations, like not knowing how to start a conversation, take turns, or change the subject.
Repetitiveness: Repeating certain phrases or words, or revisiting the same topic frequently.
Difficulty with Non-verbal Communication: Struggling to understand gestures, facial expressions, or tone of voice.
Literacy Challenges: Problems with reading and writing, often rooted in language comprehension or phonological awareness difficulties.
Auditory Memory Issues: Difficulty remembering and processing information given orally, which can impact following instructions or recounting stories.
Children with SLCN might also exhibit frustration, behavioural issues, or low self-esteem due to their communication challenges. It’s essential to identify and support these children early to provide them with the best opportunities for successful communication and learning.
Our Treatments
Speech therapists, or speech and language therapists (SLTs), employ a multifaceted approach to treat SLCN based on the unique needs of each child. Their interventions are evidence-based and are tailored to the child’s age, severity, and type of speech or language difficulty.
The ultimate goal of speech therapy for SLCN is to enhance the child’s ability to communicate effectively and confidently in all areas of their life, whether that’s at home, school, or in social situations.
Assessment: The first step is always to assess the child’s speech and language skills thoroughly. This might involve standardised tests, observations, and discussions with parents or teachers to get a comprehensive picture.
Individualised Therapy Plans: Based on the assessment, SLTs design targeted therapy sessions that focus on the specific areas where a child needs support.
Skill Development: Through various activities and exercises, therapists work on building essential speech and language skills, such as vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, or social communication skills.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): For children who struggle with verbal communication, therapists might introduce tools and systems like sign language, picture communication systems, or voice output devices.
Social Communication Training: For children who struggle with the social aspect of language, SLTs provide training in understanding non-verbal cues, turn-taking, maintaining a topic, and other conversation skills.
Literacy Support: Many children with SLCN have difficulty with reading and writing. SLTs can work on phonological awareness, reading comprehension, and other literacy skills.
Parent and Teacher Training: Therapists often provide guidance to parents and teachers on how to communicate with the child, modify their environment, or support the child’s speech and language development.
Group Therapy: Working in groups can provide children the opportunity to practice their communication skills with peers and learn from one another.
Feedback and Monitoring: Regular feedback sessions help monitor the child’s progress and adjust interventions as needed.
Collaboration: SLTs frequently collaborate with other professionals, such as teachers, psychologists, and occupational therapists, to ensure the child receives holistic care.
Madeleine Swan
Emma Hudson
Meera Mehta
Sana Mahmood
Principal Speech and Language Therapist
Madeleine Swan
She/Her
Madeleine graduated from City University in 2011 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy (Distinction) and has been working at Unlocking Language since 2015.
As the Clinical Lead for mainstream schools, Madeleine manages a team of therapists, supporting their clinical development and ensuring a high quality service. She also oversees our company supervision policy. Madeleine specialises in working with students aged 3-11 who attend mainstream schools, providing assessments and interventions for students with speech sound disorders, Developmental Language Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder amongst other diagnoses. She also delivers training and works closely with other members of staff to support the communication development of targeted students.
Madeleine has furthered her knowledge by attending additional training on Makaton, VERVE, Michael Palin PCI and school-aged therapy approaches, Word Aware, Shape Coding, Attention Autism, the evidence base for Developmental Language Disorder and Supervision.
She has experience with a wide range of therapy approaches including PECS, Intensive Interaction, SCERTS, Colourful Semantics and Talkabout.
Her favourite thing about working at UL is ‘My colleagues! I love working with such a supportive, diverse and talented group of people.’
When she’s not working, you can find Madeleine reading, watching independent films, and doing pen drawing.
Phone:0207 536 9299
Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Emma Hudson
She/Her
Emma started working at Unlocking Language in 2015 after graduating from City University London with a Postgraduate Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy. Prior to this she studied Psychology (BSc) at the University of Leeds.
She is particularly interested in early years speech and language development and specialises in working with complex needs and ASD in toddlers, as well as primary aged children with DLD, Speech Sound Disorders and ASD. As a clinical lead, she also supervises a team of therapists.
Emma’s training includes: Shape-Coding, Word Aware, Lego Therapy, Selective Mutism, Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), Phonological Awareness, Attention Autism and Cued Articulation. She is experienced with a variety of approaches such as PECS, Parent Child Interaction, Intensive Interaction, Colourful Semantics, Zones of Regulation, Talkabout and Makaton.
Emma believes in the importance of early assessment and intervention to help support children with speech, language and communication needs reach their full potential. She works closely with parents to ensure parent child interaction techniques are being used in the home to further develop language.
On working at UL: ‘I like working with a range of different clients and families and helping support them reach their potential.’
When she’s not working, you can find Emma meeting friends and family, reading, swimming or travelling to new places.
Phone:0207 536 9299
Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Meera Mehta
She/Her
Meera completed a Bachelor’s of Medical Sciences in Speech Science at the University of Sheffield in 2015. She is also a qualified Orofacial Myologist, having completed her training at the Australian Academy of Orofacial Myology in August 2019.
As a mainstream and special schools therapist, Meera specialises in working in both settings with students aged 3 – 12 years. Her professional interests lie in oro-motor, oro-facial myology, tongue ties, Talk Tools and autism and mainstream schools.
Meera is passionate about and experienced in training educational professionals and parents. She has been involved in developing online training tools for schools, as well as developing and providing training within school settings to support staff in carrying out a universal and holistic approach. She has supported schools to gain their communication friendly accreditation.
Meera has been trained in: Talk tools, Zones of regulation, Lidcombe programme, speech and language support for specific learning difficulties (Elklan), Speech and Language support for complex needs (Elklan).
On working at UL: ‘The fact that I have been able to learn so much from different schools and clients together with the non-clinical side of being a speech therapist is great. The diversity in this team is excellent.’
When she’s not working, you can find Meera painting, dancing and singing.
Additional Languages:Gujarati, Kiswahili (semi-fluent), knowledge of Hindi
Phone:0207 536 9299
Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Sana Mahmood
She/Her
Sana completed her BSc (Hons) Psychology and worked as speech therapy assistant for an Adult speech and language therapy service in the NHS. This led her to pursue a career as a speech and language therapist (SLT) and complete her MSc in Speech and Language Sciences with Merit. She qualified as an SLT and began working at UL in 2015 with a mixed adult caseload. She has developed as an SLT over the years and is now the Clinical Lead of the Adult Team.
As the only therapist on the team who has worked solely with an adult caseload since starting, Sana’s specialist interests include Neurorehab – including both complex communication and swallowing disorders and stammering. She also has experience in working with voice clients, ALD, and mental health.
She uses a client centred approach with goal setting and works closely with families and staff. Sana ensures her therapy is functional, meaningful and empowering.
Sana’s work has been presented at the Annual RCSLT Conference in 2017.
Her favourite thing about working at UL is ‘the diverse client group I get to work with both in terms of their medical diagnoses and personal backgrounds. It constantly challenges me and motivates me to keep developing my clinical and professional skills.’
When she’s not working, you can find Sana going for regular sushi outings with her friends or painting by numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is speech and language therapy?
Speech and language therapy involves assessing and treating communication disorders to help children improve their speech, language, and social communication skills.
How do I know if my child needs speech therapy?
If your child is experiencing difficulties with speech clarity, language comprehension, or social interactions, it may be beneficial to consult a speech-language pathologist for an evaluation.
What can I expect during a speech therapy session?
Speech & Language Therapy sessions are tailored to each child’s needs and may include activities to improve speech sounds, language understanding, and social communication skills. Parents are often involved to reinforce learning at home.
How long does Speech & Language Therapy take?
The duration of speech & language therapy varies depending on the child’s specific needs and progress. Our experienced therapists will work with you to develop a plan that best supports your child’s development.
Speak to us today about your Child's SLCN
If you have concerns about your child’s speech, language, or communication skills, we invite you to contact our clinic to schedule an appointment. Our dedicated team is here to provide the support and guidance your child needs to thrive. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your child succeed.