Coming to the speech and language therapy service

Here is a step-by-step guide for finding the right support to help your child’s speech, language and communication development

Find Online and Local Resources

Explore simple and fun ways to support talking:

• try activities from  tiny happy people
• Watch the top ten tips for talking animations
• Visit local libraries for story and rhyme sessions

These are great first steps to encourage everyday communication.

Join a Local Group or Programme

Visit your nearest:

• Children’s centres
•  Family hubs
• HENRY group

These sessions are free and friendly, and staff there can chat with you about any concerns.

Explore this website

This is your go to guide for all the support available in Leeds, from everyday tips to specialist services if needed.

Talk to a Professional

Share your concerns with:

• your health visitor or school nurse
• Your child’s key person at nursery, pre-school or school
• Your GP

They can help assess your child’s development and connect you with extra support if needed.

Remember: You’re not alone, and support is available every step of the way. The earlier you support children with speech and language, the better their outcomes.

Support in the community

There are many local places where you can find friendly, accessible support for your child’s development. These include:

• Children’s centres
• Family hubs
• Local libraries 
• Community and voluntary groups
• Health clinics and early years services

These spaces often offer sessions, advice, and activities to help support your child’s communication skills while giving you the opportunity to connect with other parents and carers.

Early education and childcare

Did you know your child may be eligible for free early education and childcare?

• 15 hours for eligible 2 year olds: Free early education entitlement
• 15 or 30 hours for 3 and 4 year olds: 3 and 4 year old free early education entitlement

High quality early education gives children the chance to develop their communication and language through play, stories, singing, and socialising with other children.

What practitioners do to help

In nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, early years practitioners:

• Create a language-rich environment with plenty of talking, listening, singing, and storytelling
• Use the early years foundation stage to observe and monitor children’s progress in communication and language
• Use tools like the provision grid for speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) to make sure the right support is in place for each child

Practitioners and families work together to support communication development both at home and in childcare settings.

How Practitioners can help

• Identify needs early and what happens next
• Support you if you are concerned about a child’s communication development
• Provide extra support is needed
• Refer on for specialist support

Here, you’ll find information online about how children usually develop communication. Ideas for activities you can do at home to help and advice on what to do if you think they need more help.

• Afasic (charity) helpline:  A charity that supports children, young people with speech, language, and communication needs and their families. Speak to a speech and language therapist on the phone for advice and support.
  • Phone: 0300 666 9410
  • Opening hours: Monday and Wednesday from 10:30am to 4pm

Here you’ll find a range of trusted services that can support you to understand your child’s speech, language, and communication development.

Leeds Maternity Care: Antenatal care isn’t just about your health, it’s also about helping you build a strong bond with your baby before they’re even born. During pregnancy, you’ll get support to understand your baby’s needs, connect emotionally, and start forming a loving relationship that sets the foundation for their development and wellbeing.

Preparation for birth and beyond groups: Group sessions run by the 0 to 19 public health nursing service, alongside children’s centres and midwives. You can join in person at a local children’s centre or online. The sessions help you learn how your baby’s brain develops. You’ll learn about the importance of looking at your baby, cuddling, talking, and being close. These help build a strong, healthy bond right from the start.

Baby Steps is a group for families who may need a bit of extra support. It helps parents and carers build their confidence in supporting their child’s communication. Ask about Baby Steps at your local children’s centre.

Baby Bubble Leeds is a closed Facebook support group for mums to be that begins at around 16 to 20 weeks pregnant and is there for you up to six months after your baby is born.

Infant Mental Health service:  Having a baby, toddler, or pre-school child can be a special and joyous time, but we know that for many people it can also be a challenging time. We support parents and carers in tackling these challenges and developing ways to strengthen the unique relationship between you and your baby or child. Having a close relationship with your baby helps them to get off to the best possible start in life and grow up feeling safe and secure and able to explore their world as curious and confident children.

HENRY is an 8-week group aimed at families with children under 5 years old who live in Leeds. Each week will help you develop a healthy, happy and supportive home for your whole family.

Public health nursing offers comprehensive support for families from pregnancy through to adolescence. This service, encompassing health visiting and school nursing, provides guidance on child development, health, and wellbeing at various stages.

Key services include:

• Antenatal support: Expectant mothers receive a personal child health record (‘red book’) detailing available support and useful information before the baby’s birth.
• Postnatal visits: Shortly after birth, health visitors conduct home visits to discuss feeding, safe sleeping, and baby care, while also reviewing the baby’s development and addressing parental wellbeing.
• Developmental reviews: Scheduled assessments at 6 to 10 weeks, 8 to 12 months, and 2 to 2 and half years to monitor the child’s growth and development, typically conducted at home or community settings.
• School-age health checks: At ages 4 to 5 and 10 to 11, children undergo height, weight, and vision screenings in school, with results communicated to parents.
• Additional support: Assistance with breastfeeding, bedwetting, emotional challenges, oral health, bereavement, and bullying is available. Families can also access advice on behaviour, sleep, and toilet training through daily telephone consultations.

Hearing checks

Your baby will have a new-born hearing assessment at birth. It is important to identify a problem hearing early in life so that the condition can be managed as well as possible. ICAN audiology service will arrange a follow up assessment if the assessment was not carried out at birth.

Speech and language therapy service

We’ve put together some helpful tips to get you started with supporting your child’s speech, language, and communication needs. These ideas are easy to try at home and can make a real difference in your child’s progress and confidence.

Visit the supporting you while you wait page and pick the section that best matches your child’s needs and:

• my child communicates in different ways
• get going with speech sounds
• speech sound awareness activities
• get going with language
• early language activities

Focused support means your child gets the extra help they need, tailored to their specific needs. It’s a step by step process, where support changes as your child grows and develops, making sure they get the right help at the right time.

Public health nursing can provide support and signposting

• Developmental reviews: Scheduled assessments at 6 to 10 weeks, 8 to 12 months, and 2 to 2 and half years to monitor the child’s growth and development, typically conducted at home or community settings.
• School-age health checks: At ages 4 to 5 and 10 to 11, children undergo height, weight, and vision screenings in school, with results communicated to parents.
• Additional support: Families can also access advice on behaviour, sleep, and toilet training through telephone consultations.

Hearing checks

If your child has a condition that increases their risk of hearing loss they will be invited for an annual hearing check by the ICAN audiology service. If you are worried about your child’s hearing speak to your GP or health visitor.

Childcare and education settings

Childcare and education practitioners play a big role in helping children learn to talk and understand. Staff support children by chatting with them throughout the day, listening carefully, encouraging play and conversation, reading together, and using fun activities to help build their speech, language, and communication skills in a natural, supportive way.

There are a range of helpful programs that childcare and school staff use to support children with their speech, language, and communication. These include simple checks to spot any difficulties early, and fun group or one-to-one sessions using stories, games, and play to help children build their confidence and skills. Staff are trained to use these approaches in everyday routines, so support feels natural and part of your child’s day.

If you’re a parent and want to talk to someone in your child’s setting about speech, language, or communication support, here’s what you can do:

• Start by having a chat with your child’s key worker, teacher, or special educational needs coordinator (SENCO ). Let them know your concerns or questions, they’re there to help and can explain what support is already in place or what might be helpful. You can ask if any checks have been done, what they’ve noticed about your child’s communication, and whether any programs or extra help might be available.

Don’t worry about saying the “right” thing, just share what you’ve noticed. Your input as a parent is really valuable.

Specialist support is for children and young people who have more complex, ongoing or specific speech, language and communication needs.

Some children might need more specialised help, like one-on-one sessions or small group activities with speech and language therapists or other professionals. This support is tailored to the child’s unique needs and often includes the people who know them best, like teachers, early years staff, and family, so they can make steady progress wherever they are.

What kind of support?

• Speech and language therapy helping children who struggle with talking, understanding, or social interaction.
• Audiology and hearing support for children with hearing difficulties or diagnosed deafness.
• Autism and developmental support including assessments and tailored help for communication or sensory needs.
• Support in education settings from specialist teachers and outreach teams who work in schools and nurseries.
• Third sector support, charities and community groups offering practical help, social activities, and home-based support.

We have a team of speech and language therapists to help babies and children who have trouble: sucking, chewing, or swallowing food or drinks safely. We can also support young children, under the age of 18 months, if they have difficulties accepting food (for example, if they avoid eating or dislike food around their mouth).

You need a GP or Paediatrician to refer to this service.

Visit our service pathway for more information.

Some families choose to see a speech and language therapist (SLT) privately, either alongside or instead of NHS support. If you’re considering this option, it’s important to find a qualified and registered therapist. You can search for independent SLTs in your area using the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP) website. All therapists listed there are fully qualified and members of recognised professional bodies.

The Leeds SEND Local Offer

The Leeds SEND Local Offer website gives clear information about services and support for children and young people (from birth to 25 years) with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND).

Visit the Leeds SEND Local Offer website.

SEND information, advice and support services

SEND information, advice and support services offer free independent information, advice to children and young people with SEND, as well as their parents and carers.

Visit Leeds SEND information and advice support service (SENDIASS) for more information.

Leeds Parent Carer Forum

Leeds Parent Carer Forum is run by parents or carers of children with SEND. It supports other parents and gives families a voice to help improve local SEND services.

Visit the website for Leeds Parent Carer Forum.

Contact: For families with disabled children

Contact: For families with disabled children is a charity supporting families of disabled children. Their freephone helpline is: 0808 808 3555.

The Communication Offer

The Communication Offer describes the services, resources and support available in Leeds to help children and young people with speech, language and communication development. It includes:

• Support for all, available to all families through online resources, community groups and universal services
• Focused support for those who need a bit of extra help
• Specialist support for children and young people with more complex needs

Whether you’re a parent, carer or someone working with children, you’ll find useful information here to help you support a child’s communication journey.