Overview
Speech and Language Therapy helps children with their understanding and talking.
We work with children, families, carers and staff in pre-schools and schools, to help children’s communication skills. We give practical advice and support through training for families, teachers and staff.
We also provide support for children with swallowing difficulties.
The current average waiting time for the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy service is 8.7 weeks.
Calls are recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
Using this service
If you live in Bromley/are registered with a Bromley GP, you can contact us directly to find out more about the service or to discuss a referral for your child. Simply call us on 0300 330 5777. You can also talk to your doctor, health visitor or member of staff from your child’s pre-school or school, who can refer your child or speak to us for you.
Referral email address: bromh.cypreferrals@nhs.net
Calls are recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
Who do we see?
This service is open to children and young people registered with a Bromley GP living in the borough of Bromley.
We support children and young people with speech, language and communication needs. We also work with children and young people with eating and drinking (swallowing) difficulties.
You can find out more about communication skills at Communication and hearing :: Bromley 0 to 19 Public Health Service.
If you are concerned about your child’s speech, prior to accessing our service, it may help if you speak to your doctor (GP), nurse, a teacher or other professional, who can do a basic hearing test to see if there is a problem. They may refer your child to the Children’s Audiology service for a hearing assessment.
Calls are recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
About speech development
Babies’ communication skills develop from birth. They will let you know if they are hungry or uncomfortable by crying. They learn to look at faces and will smile as we talk to them. Over time they begin to understand the words we say. Babies enjoy making babble sounds too and will usually say their first words at 12-18 months.
Toddlers develop their listening skills and begin to understand a growing number of single words and simple phrases. They start to put two or more words together in small sentences.
Three-year-olds understand more difficult words (e.g. position words like under). By four years they enjoy listening to simple stories, will use longer sentences and ask many questions. Some speech sounds are still difficult for them to say.
Children continue to make progress with their understanding and talking throughout their school years. The ability to engage in two-way conversations is also key for developing a wider circle of friendships in different social situations.
You can find out more about your pre-school child’s development on our Bromley 0 to 19 website: Communication and hearing :: Bromley 0 to 19 Public Health Service. Additionally, the Bromley B-Hive website provides lots of advice for supporting children’s speech and language development, including videos and activities. You can access the website here: Speech, language and communication – b-HIVE (bromleytherapyhub.org.uk)
If you are worried about your child’s speech and language talk to us directly on 0300 330 5777, or talk to your child’s health visitor, GP, pre-school or school.
Information about related topics:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) / Aspergers Syndrome
Cerebral palsy
Cleft lip and palate
Down’s syndrome
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
Epilepsy
Glue ear
Hearing impairment (deafness)
Children with learning difficulties
Stammering
Calls are recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
Resources for parents
Talking point
General information about children’s speech and language development.
Chatterpack
Free speech, language and communication resources for teachers, parents and carers.
Child’s progress checker (speechandlanguage.org.uk)
Tools and resources for nursery staff, teachers and families to develop the confidence and skills to help children.
The Communication Trust
Resources to encourage listening, understanding, interaction and play.
Handout on SALT apps for tablet and smartphone (PDF)
Helpful videos
Active listening and barrier games
Identifying and understanding
Practical alternative and augmentative communication
Selective mutism
Speech disorders webinar
Stammering – parent training
Universal stammering training
Word finding and memory webinar
Useful links
Afasic
Information and support for children and young people with speech and language impairments, and their families.
Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives
Information about speech and language impairment for parents, carers and guardians, 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.
Bromley Mencap
A charity working with disabled people and their families and carers in Bromley.
Bromley 0 to 19
Public Health Service providing guidance and support to families, carers, children and young people.
Burgess Autistic Trust
A charity working with children, young people and adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Bromley.
B-hive – Bromley Therapy Hub
A collective of therapy advice, support and services for children, teenagers and young adults in Bromley
Communication Matters
A national voluntary organisation of members concerned with augmentative and alternative communication.
Downs Syndrome Association
A national voluntary organisation of members concerned with augmentative and alternative communication.
Kent Community Health – Children’s Therapies – The Pod
KCH provide a range of advice and strategies for children with speech and language difficulties.
National Autistic Society
Providing information and advice for parents, carers and guardians of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS)
A charity giving support, advice and information for families of deaf children and those working with them.
NHS – Help your baby learn to talk
The NHS website gives useful information for parents, carers and guardians of children aged 0 to 3 years old.
Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
The professional organisation for speech and language therapists.
Scope
The UK charity for cerebral palsy.
Speechlink
SLCN screening, assessmentent, intervention and support.
Calls are recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
For professionals
Patients can be referred via the Single Point of Entry form on EMIS.
For school/educational settings, please fully complete the School Aged Referral Form and email it to bromh.cypreferrals@nhs.net or you can find the postal address on the form.
Alternatively, patients can refer their child by calling the Care Coordination Centre on 0300 330 5777 or by emailing bromh.cypreferrals@nhs.net
Service Lead: Amber Copsey
Training videos for professionals –
Dysphagia training 2.0
Calls are recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.