Speech and language therapy virtual advice sessions

We offer virtual advice sessions to enable parents, carers and those working in educational settings to receive Speech and Language Therapy advice when it is needed.

Virtual advice sessions can be accessed via Microsoft Teams or by telephone appointment. Please state your preference when booking. Microsoft Teams works best when more than 2 people are attending the advice session.

We will send you a link to join an online virtual advice session meeting via email. No software download is required and you can access the session via a computer or smart phone.

Appointments will last from 30 – 45 minutes.

If it is felt that your child requires access to specialist support from within the service a standard referral form will be requested.

Advice lines can be accessed as frequently as required to support ongoing goal setting and progression of therapy programmes/ support.

Advice sessions for early years children

For parents

We offer 30-minute online or telephone sessions with one of our therapists to discuss your concerns, gain information around development and support with advice and next steps tailored to your child’s needs. The sessions are for parents and carers only. Please do not include your child in this session.

To request an appointment call 01296 838000 or email buc-tr.cyptherapies@nhs.net

For settings, pre-schools and nurseries

For staff wishing to discuss a specific child:

We offer 30-minute online sessions with one of our therapists to discuss your concerns, gain information around development and support with advice and next steps tailored to the child’s needs. Our therapist will explain how to write the advice directly into the child’s SEND support plan. Where possible, we highly recommend that parents and staff from the preschool or nursery setting join the same virtual call to share information. An email for the same meeting will be sent to all wanting to attend.

Where settings wish to discuss a specific child without parents present, consent must be gained from the parents prior to the session.

For staff wishing to discuss universal strategies to implement within your setting, children will remain anonymous:

To request a child-specific or universal strategy advice session, please complete the early years advice session form . Email the form to us using the address below and the title ‘SALT Early Years Advice Session’ in the subject of your email.

Advice sessions for school age, reception upwards

These sessions are focused on supporting children with speech, language and communication needs within the educational setting. Our therapist will explain how to write their advice directly into the child’s SEND support plan.

You can discuss up to 4 children during a 45-minute session which takes places online through Microsoft Teams.

We tailor the advice to individually named children. We need parental carer consent before you request a session. We can do anonymous sessions if the parent/carer does not give consent. If a parent or carer would like to attend alongside staff please indicate this on the request form.

To request a session, please complete the schools advice session form . Email the form to us using the address below and the title ‘SALT School Advice Session’ in the subject of your email.

Infant Language Link and Speech Link

Infant Language Link and Speech Link assessments and interventions are available in all Key Stage 1 settings and run alongside speech and language therapy school advice sessions to tailor advice specifically to individual children.

Infant Language Link is an award winning, evidence based online package. It helps to raise the attainment of all children with speech, language and communication needs across Reception and Key Stage 1.

The standardised assessment identifies 8 key areas of language. It provides:

classroom strategies and resources
targeted interventions
specific supplementary teaching to allow school staff to actively support children.

Based on data from September 2020 to July 2021 Infant Language link interventions used in Buckinghamshire schools was effective to partially effective for 83% of children who took part.

The Speech Link package helps identify and support children aged 4 to 8 years with developmental speech sound difficulties. Launched in 2003, it helps schools across the UK decide who needs to see a speech and language therapist, as well as those at risk of literacy difficulties.

Speech Link helps support staff work effectively with children’s common speech sound errors.

Accessing SpeechLink

Schools have access to the SpeechLink Helpdesk, 0333 577 0784. Or you can email office2@speechlink.co.uk for more information.