Care and support

Speech and Language Therapy

The children’s speech and language therapy service sits within the children’s services directorate within the Hertfordshire Partnership Trust.

The service is organised into seven therapy teams working in Children’s Centres, mainstream schools, special schools, language units/bases, Dacorum clinics, St Albans/Hertsmere/Harpenden Clinics and Watford and Three Rivers clinics.

Who provides my child’s therapy?

Speech and Language therapy is provided by your local Health Trust through the Community Speech and Language Therapy Service.
Children under 5 and those older children who do not need a Statement of Special Educational Needs are seen by the Community Speech and Language Therapy Service.

However for some children who are of school age, speech and language therapy is very often considered as educational provision.

What do speech and language therapists do?

A speech and language therapist is one of a range of people working to develop your child’s communication skills. Others include advisory teachers, educational psychologists, school staff and you.

Speech and language therapists work in different ways to suit your child’s needs. Sometimes he/she may work with your child in the classroom or give ideas and suggestions for activities. They work closely in advising and supporting your child’s teacher or support assistant who knows your child well. In this way your child’s needs can be integrated into the curriculum as much as possible.

Advice from the therapist should be incorporated into your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) which is tailored to meet your child’s needs.

How will I know about my child’s therapy?

In a mainstream school The speech and language therapist will write to tell you how they will work with your child and the staff at the school. Therapists working with children in mainstream schools write reports for reviews. The therapist will be invited to attend the review meetings. You will be given a copy of any report that the therapist writes about your child. Your child’s speech and language therapist will be happy to meet you by appointment.

In specialist provision
Therapists working in special schools and units will tell you who they are, when they are in school and also how you can contact them to discuss your child’s progress. Special school brochures may include some information about speech and language therapy. Therapists usually attend parent’s evenings with teaching colleagues and write a report for your child’s review of special educational needs. You will be given any report that the therapist writes about your child and you can make an appointment to see the therapist in person if you wish. The Headteacher of your child’s nursery or school will arrange any review meetings that take place.

An Annual Review must take place at least every twelve months.

Nursery and Pre-reception
If your child is attending nursery or pre-reception school, the priority of the speech and language therapy is to work with you and your children. This is because your child’s family is the main focus of your child’s life. The speech and language therapist will suggest ways in which you can support your child’s development at home.

What does speech and language mean for you as parents?

The speech and language therapist will need your input to help your child develop. Depending on your child’s needs you may be offered any of the following:

• Parent workshop
• Group session
• Individual session
• Verbal/written advice
• Liaison with school or nursery

The speech and language therapist will always discuss and agree with you the aims for your child.
They will expect you:

• To be actively involved
• To carry out therapy ideas at home
• To work together

If you have further questions or require help please contact the Customer Service Centre on 01923 471500 (calling from 01923 and 0208 area codes) or 01438 737500 (all other areas of Hertfordshire)

Health Trust SLT Managers
North Herts: 01438 314333 ext. 4148
West Herts:
East Herts: 01707 328111 ext.3331

Educational Psychology:

East 1: 01462 704299
East 2: 01992 588515
West 1: 01442 453043
West 2: 01442 453904

Advisory Teacher Services

If you have further questions or require help please contact the Customer Service Centre on 01923 471500 (calling from 01923 and 0208 area codes) or 01438 737500 (all other areas of Hertfordshire)

Parent Partnership Service
Helpline number: 01992 555847