Children Speech And Language Therapy Service

The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service works across the whole county providing help in a range of community, health centre and hospital settings.

We work with children up to the age of 16 years (up to 19 years in special education), who have a difficulty with communication or swallowing. This may include difficulties in social communication, understanding language, using language, speech sounds, dysfluency (stammering), difficulties with voice quality and eating, drinking and swallowing.

The service is provided in a number of ways, depending on clinical need. This may be advice programmes, individual or group treatment, parent/carer workshops and drop-in information clinics. Our therapists and support practitioners aim to support the child to communicate functionally in their daily life. This includes working with the child, their carers, education staff and others involved in the child’s life.

The service also undertakes a role in providing training and specialist support to parents/carers and staff working with children and young people in schools, residential units and other settings. This enables parents/carers and professionals involved with the child, to provide an appropriate level of support and input.

Treatment is usually provided wherever is most appropriate for the patient.
The service works in Central Bedfordshire in the following locations:

• health centres and clinics
• GP practices
• Child Development Centre
• mainstream schools and preschool settings
• special schools
• Children’s Centres
• patients homes (where appropriate)