SEND speech and language therapy

The children’s speech and language therapy service from Bromley Healthcare offers assessments, advice and therapy for pre-schoolers, school aged children and young people. The service works with children, families, carers and staff in pre-schools and schools, to help develop children’s understanding, talking and communication skills. 

The speech and language therapy service aims to provide assessment and support to children and young people who may have speech, language and communication difficulties or problems with their eating and drinking (swallowing) skills.

This service is open to children and young people resident in Bromley and registered to a Bromley GP.

Assessment for pre-school children

To see pre-school children quickly and to provide a wider range of appointments the speech and language service offers drop-in clinics at five centres across Bromley.

Referrals to this service can be made directly and are open to children and young people resident in Bromley who are registered to a Bromley GP.

The drop-in clinics are for children who have not been referred to the service.

You don’t need an appointment to visit the drop-in clinics as they will see you on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis, although on busy days they may ask you to come back to the next session.

Visit the Bromley Healthcare website for more information about these drop-in clinics for pre-school children and what to expect once you are there.

Find out more about the drop in sessions and what the service offers

Assessment for school aged children and young people

This service works with school aged children and young people who remain in education or training post 18 years, up to the age of 25 with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Assessments usually take place in local community clinics where a speech and language therapist will conduct the assessment and agree a management plan with the child, young person and their parents or carers. This plan will also consider information from other professionals involved with child or young person.

Referrals to this service are through an open referral system which accepts referrals from parents or health professionals and teachers if parental permission has been obtained.

Find out more about what this service offers

SEND education (graduated approach framework)

Bromley has a graduated approach to assessment and provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The core purpose is to prevent possible barriers to learning, enabling all children and young people to access an education in Bromley and to fulfil their potential.

Alongside Bromley’s ordinarily available SEND provision in mainstream schools and settings, the SEND graduated approach framework provides clear guidance to professionals about how the graduated approach for speech, language and communication needs can be implemented.

Find a speech and language therapist

The Association of Speech and Language Therapists website, provides  search facility where you can find qualified and registered speech and language therapists that you can buy services from directly.This can include both assessments and ongoing support. It is also possible to search by speciality, age and distance from your home.

All association members are registered members of both the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the health and care professions council, and are committed to good business standards.

Resources

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Information about speech and language impairment for parents, and training and advice for professionals. 

British Dyslexia Association
Advice, information and help for families, professionals and individuals with dyslexia. 

British Stammering Association
Information and support on stammering.

The communication trust  have developed a wide range of resources for parents and professionals. They offer a range of information and tools to enable practitioners to improve their practice, many of which are free to download.

Need more help?

The Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS) provides confidential and impartial advice and information to support parents or carers and children and young people who have, or may have, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged 0 – 25.