Stamma

The British Stammering Association, now known as Stamma since 2019, is a national organisation for children who stammer and their families. It also provides information, advice and support for professionals working with children who stammer.

Attention Autism

Attention Autism is an intervention model designed by Gina Davies, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.  It aims to develop natural and spontaneous communication through the use of visually based and highly motivating activities.  It has been designed to help parents and professionals give their autistic child an irresistible invitation to learn, having fun whilst doing so and providing the child with an experience worth communicating about. Training is available for both professionals and parents.

Worcestershire information for families

The Worcestershire SLCN Pathway is based on the belief that parents are the most important people in a child’s life in terms of making a positive difference to speech, language and communication development at all stages. The Pathway offers guidance and advice for you to share with parents and carers on how to:

• Identify children with SLCN
• Support children with SLCN
• Adapt the environment for children with SLCN
• Make provision for children with SLCN
• Plan for further development of staff skills and knowledge about SLCN
• Find out about further sources of information

Cost: Free

Enquiry Line

The Speech and Language UK Enquiry Service gives parents a chance to discuss questions or concerns about their child’s speech, language and communication development with one of Speech and Language UK’s speech and language therapists.  The therapists can give helpful information about children’s talking and communication development as well as tips on improving these skills. They can also offer advice on ages and stages and what can be done to help the child get the right support.

Cost: Free

Using visual support

Parents play a key role in supporting their child's language and communication skills in everyday life. Children learn about the world through their experiences and interests particularly within their play. Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust provide information and opportunities for families learn more about developing their child's speech and language - this video introduces how to use visual support to help communication.

Cost: Free

Afasic

Afasic supports parents and carers with young children who have difficulties with listening, talking and understanding others. Here is information for you use and to share with families of the children you support. It includes a wide range of information about talking, listening and understanding and what might cause these difficulties.  If families are worried that their child is not talking or not saying as much as other children of their age, they can contact Afasic by telephone or email to speak to someone who can help. 

Cost: Free

Afasic Parent Helpline

If a parent is worried about their child / young person's speech, language and communication, share this Afasic helpline information so that they can speak to someone who can help by telephone or email.

Cost: Free

I CAN How to support your child

This information for families provides ideas for them to support their child and forms part of Speech and Language UK's guide to the typical stages of speech and language development.  Children develop language at different rates and understanding what is typical and what parents and carers can do to support  communication and language helps provide them with a great start. 

Cost: Free

Health and Care Professions Council

The HCPC regulate health and care professions including Speech and Language Therapists. They do this by setting standards for professionals' education, training and practice; keep a register of professionals who meet their standards and take action if professionals on their register do not meet their standards. Here you will find their register.

Signalong

Signalong provides training and resources to assist those with communication difficulties and English as an additional language.

Signalong is a key word sign-supported communication system based on British sign language and is used in spoken word order. It uses speech, sign, body language, facial expression and voice tone to reference the link between sign and word.

Cost: Free & £

RADLD

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is diagnosed when children struggle to develop language, resulting in children who have difficulty understanding what people say to them, and struggle to articulate their ideas and feelings.  This website provides you with information and resources to help identify and support children with DLD.   Information can also be shared with families and carers of children with DLD.

Cost: Free

Afasic My Child Isn't Talking and I'm Worried

Children develop and learn to talk at different rates – some more slowly or quickly than others. However, there are key milestones parents can look out for and it can help them to know how talking develops, what happens and when. Here Afasic provides information for you to share with parents on: identifying who can help; first steps to getting help and support; gathering information and keeping a record and questions to ask professionals.

Cost: Free

ASLTIP

The Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP) provides information and a contact point for members of the public searching for an Independent Speech and Language Therapist. It also provides members with access to a UK network of SLTs and ongoing professional support.

Cost: £

EarlyBird Plus Programme

EarlyBird Plus is a support programmes for parents and carers, offering advice and guidance on strategies and approaches to working with young autistic children aged 4-9 years.  The programme works on understanding autism, building confidence to encourage interaction and communication, and understanding and supporting behaviour.

Teen Life Programme

Teen Life is a support programme for parents and carers, offering advice and guidance on strategies and approaches to working with autistic children and young people aged 10-16 years. The Teen Life programme aims to empower parents and supporting professionals to understand more about how autism is experienced by autistic teenagers.

DLD and Me: Supporting Children and Young People with Developmental Language Disorder

DLD and Me is a functional, engaging resource for children and young people with DLD and the professionals and families that work with them. The book consists of an easy-to-follow, 12-week programme designed to help children and young people understand their strengths, what makes them different, what DLD is and how they can support their own communication in everyday life.

Engage with Developmental Language Disorder

Engage with Developmental Language Disorder (E-DLD) connects people affected by DLD to academic research.  E-DLD keep families and individuals updated on research findings; current research projects; DLD-related activities.  They also host events, allowing members to meet and share experiences. E-DLD supports researchers and other professionals working to improve outcomes for people with DLD. 

Helping social communication development

Parents play a key role in supporting their child's language and communication skills in everyday life. Children learn about the world through their experiences and interests particularly within their play. Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust provide information and opportunities for families to learn more about developing their child's speech and language including this presentation about social communication.

Cost: Free

Michael Palin Centre for Stammering

The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering helps children, young people and adults who stammer through individually-tailored therapy delivered by highly experienced specialists. 

Action for Stammering Helpline

Action for Stammering Children (ASC) is a UK charity which aims for a society where children and young people who stammer have the same opportunities and quality of life as their peers. Their goal is to ensure that every child and young person across the UK who stammers has access to effective services and support to help them meet the challenges they face.  Call their helpline to speak to a professional who will be able to answer your questions.

Cost: Free

SMIRA

SMIRA became a UK Registered Charity in 1992, having been set up initially to support families with selectively mute children. Here you will find further information, advice and resources for you to share with parents and carers to help them understand and support their child.

Cost: Free

NeuroSENse explainer - Facts and Myths about Deafness

This blog and video aims to raise awareness of several misconceptions related to deafness and language development and promote a better understanding of the barriers to language and communication that children with deafness can encounter.