How to refer to a Speech and Language Therapist

We offer a package of Speech and Language Therapy support for children of pre-school and primary-school age who have:

• Speech, language and communication difficulties.
• Autistic-spectrum disorders.
• Hearing impairment.
• Disorders of fluency, such as stammering and stuttering.
• Disorders of feeding, eating or drinking.
• Cleft palate and velopharyngeal abnormalities.
• Speech and language difficulties of neurological origin.
• Difficulties with voice.

Our team includes qualified Speech and Language therapists, Speech and Language Therapy Assistants, specialist nursery nurses and volunteers and YOU!

Parents are Key

Research shows that parents are vital in assisting their child’s communication to develop. A recent study showed that:

• As a result of participating in parent-implemented training programs, parents successfully learned the strategies and used them when interacting with their child.
• Parents had a positive effect on their child’s communication development. Parents’ use of strategies led to improvements in their child’s expressive skills (nonverbal communication as well as speech), understanding, vocabulary, grammar, and the frequency with which their child communicated.
• Parents were just as effective at helping their child as speech-language pathologists were. In fact, parents were actually more effective than speech-language pathologists when working on improving the child’s understanding of language and grammar.
• Children with a variety of language difficulties made good progress when their parents were trained to help them. This includes children with Language Impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Developmental Delay.

We always aim to work as partners to parents, demonstrating how they (and school/family) can support the development of a child’s communication on a daily basis. We can’t do it without you!

Referrals

• If your child is above the age of 1 and have eating and/or drinking difficulties you can phone the Care Coordination Centre or they can be referred by their school, nursery, health visitor, social care or GP.
• All school aged children are referred by their school, please see the information below for the referral form and Information pack.
• Children with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) whose specified therapy is over and above the core provision commissioned by health are seen by the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) team – for more information click here.
• We do not currently provide a service for secondary aged children, unless they attend a special school.
• For children aged 2 years 6 months until they start their reception year at school (until the August, before a child starts school in the September) with a mid-Essex GP, you can book a Communication Station appointment without needing to complete a referral. Please call 0300 303 9960 between 8-8:30 on the day of the Communication Station to get a booked appointment for the same day, until the slots are filled. Details of dates and locations can be found below.

• If your child is younger than 2 years 6 months, we recommend starting with our parent training video:
  ‘Supporting Language Development in Babies and Toddlers’ (please check back as this is coming to our website soon!). This video will offer practical tips, strategies, and activities you can use at home to support your child’s communication skills while you wait until they reach the referral age.

•  Please also see the downloads on our website, including this resource Universally Speaking – ‘The ages and stages of children’s communication development from birth to 5’.
• If translation services are required, there are safeguarding concerns or you are unable to attend a Communication Station and you require a pre-booked appointment, please complete a referral form. Click the writing to download a form. Please state on the form that you require a pre-booked appointment. There is an up to 18 week wait for pre-booked appointments.

Upcoming Communication Station dates and locations:

Communication Stations are 15 minute appointments that involve meeting a Speech and Language Therapist to assess or review your child’s speech, language and communication through listening to your current concerns, observation and play. We will then offer advice and/or ensure that your child is put on the correct care pathway.

Crouch Vale Medical Centre Burnham Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford CM3 5QP

Wednesday 17 September AM – please call 0300 303 9960 8-8:30am on 17.09.25 to book an appointment. Please have your child’s NHS number ready.

St Peters Hospital Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) Spital Road, Maldon CM9 6EG

Friday 26 September AM – please call 0300 303 9960 8-8:30am on 26.09.25 to book an appointment. Please have your child’s NHS number ready.

Stapleford House Children’s Centre 103 Stapleford Close, Chelmsford CM2 0QX

Thursday 25 September AM and PM – please call 0300 303 9960 8-8:30am on 25.09.25 to book an appointment. Please have your child’s NHS number ready.

Witham Health Centre 4 Mayland Road, Witham CM8 2UX

Tuesday 9 September AM – please call 0300 303 9960 8-8:30am on 09.09.25 to book an appointment. Please have your child’s NHS number ready.

Woodcroft nursery school Dorset Avenue, Great Baddow, Chelmsford CM2 9UB

Thursday 11 September AM – please call 0300 303 9960 8-8:30am on 11.09.25 to book an appointment. Please have your child’s NHS number ready.

Livewell Hub, Victoria Square, Manor Street, Braintree, CM7 3YL

Friday 19 September AM & PM – please call 0300 303 9960 8-8:30am on 19.09.25 to book an appointment. Please have your child’s NHS number ready.

Halstead Hospital Rehabilitation Unit 78 Hedingham Rd, Halstead CO9 2DL.

Friday 5 September AM – please call 0300 303 9960 8-8:30am on 05.09.25 to book an appointment. Please have your child’s NHS number ready.