Speech and Language Therapy

At CHAMP, Speech and Language Therapy is delivered using a holistic, trauma‑informed, and neurodiversity‑affirming approach. We recognise that communication is closely linked to emotional regulation, sensory processing, and a child’s lived experiences.

Therapy is carefully paced and responsive, with a strong emphasis on building trust, predictability, and emotional safety. Sessions are structured to reduce pressure and anxiety, supporting children to communicate in ways that feel meaningful and achievable for them.

Our approach draws on evidence‑based frameworks and is informed by each child’s individual profile, strengths, and needs. Therapy is functional, relationship‑based, and designed to support communication across real‑life contexts, including home, school, and social environments.

After the assessment, your Speech and Language Therapist will suggest supportive intervention approaches designed around your child’s unique strengths and areas of need, which may include:

Speech and Language

At CHAMP, we support children who benefit from using a range of communication methods to express themselves effectively. This includes Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) as well as a Total Communication approach, where children are encouraged to use all available forms of communication.

This may include spoken language, signs and key word signing, symbols, communication boards, gestures, visuals, and speech‑generating devices. Therapy focuses on building meaningful, functional communication, reducing frustration, and supporting language development in ways that feel natural and accessible to the child.

We view all forms of communication as valid and valuable, and support their use alongside spoken language where appropriate.

For children who present with a Gestalt Language Processing profile, therapy is informed by principles of Natural Language Acquisition. This approach supports children who use echolalia or memorised phrases, helping them progress towards more flexible, self‑generated language over time.

Intervention emphasises meaningful language modelling, emotional regulation, and functional communication, rather than forced repetition or correction.

Developmental Language Therapy supports children who experience difficulties understanding language (receptive language) and expressing themselves clearly (expressive language). Intervention focuses on building vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, and comprehension using evidence‑based, developmentally appropriate approaches.

Therapy is functional and goal‑led, supporting children to access learning, follow instructions, express ideas, and participate confidently in everyday interactions across home and school environments.

Articulation Therapy supports children who have difficulty producing specific speech sounds clearly. Therapy focuses on helping the child learn accurate sound production through structured, supportive practice that is tailored to their individual needs.

The aim is to improve speech clarity and confidence so that children are more easily understood in everyday situations.

Phonological Therapy supports children whose speech is difficult to understand because they use simplified or immature sound patterns. Rather than focusing on individual sounds in isolation, therapy looks at how a child organises and uses sounds within words.

Intervention uses carefully selected, evidence‑based approaches to help children develop clearer, more consistent speech patterns and carry these skills into everyday conversation.

Fluency Therapy supports children who experience stammering or dysfluency, including repetitions, prolongations, or blocks in speech. Therapy is delivered using evidence‑based, child‑centred approaches that prioritise communication confidence, emotional wellbeing, and positive attitudes towards speaking.

Intervention may include indirect approaches such as parent coaching and environmental modification, and/or direct therapy, depending on the child’s age, needs, and presentation.

Social Communication Therapy supports children who find it challenging to use language effectively in social contexts. This may include difficulties with turn‑taking, conversational skills, understanding non‑verbal communication, perspective‑taking, and adapting language for different situations.

Intervention focuses on meaningful, real‑world interaction and is particularly beneficial for children with autism, ADHD, or social communication differences.

Who Benefits from Speech and Language Therapy?

Speech and Language Therapy can support children with a wide range of communication needs, including:

  • Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
  • Speech sound difficulties and reduced intelligibility
  • Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and social communication differences
  • ADHD and attention‑related communication challenges
  • Social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs impacting communication
  • Gestalt Language Processing profiles
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users (low‑ and high‑tech)
  • Developmental delays and learning needs
  • Stammering

Collaborative Working with Families and Schools:

While individual therapy is an important part of progress, meaningful change happens when communication strategies are consistently embedded across a child’s daily environments. At CHAMP, we work closely with parents, carers, and educators to provide practical guidance and strategies that can be used at home and in school.

This collaborative approach helps ensure consistency, generalisation of skills, and long‑term success, enabling children to communicate more effectively across all settings.


Group Speech and Language Therapy:

Group Speech and Language Therapy sessions offer children opportunities to practise communication skills in a supportive and motivating social environment. Group therapy is particularly effective for developing social communication, interaction, listening, and language skills alongside peers.

We offer small group sessions for children with similar communication needs, typically running during school holidays or half‑term periods. Group sizes are kept small to ensure each child receives appropriate support while benefiting from peer interaction.

Telehealth / Remote Speech and Language Therapy (Telerehabilitation): 

CHAMP also offers Speech and Language Therapy via secure video consultation, where appropriate. Telehealth sessions allow children and families to access specialist support remotely while maintaining high clinical standards and meaningful therapeutic outcomes.  Telehealth may be suitable for children who:
  • benefit from therapy within their home environment
  • are older or able to engage via video-based interaction
  • require parent coaching and strategy-based intervention
  • use AAC or visual supports that can be shared digitally
  • are unable to attend in-person sessions due to distance, health, or scheduling constraints
  • children who may find it difficult to tolerate a clinic-based setting, for whom support can begin gradually via telehealth where appropriate
Remote sessions are carefully selected based on clinical judgement and the child’s individual communication profile. Therapy goals, session structure, and strategies are adapted to ensure sessions remain engaging, functional, and developmentally appropriate.  Telehealth Speech and Language Therapy may include:
  • language-based intervention and strategy development
  • speech sound therapy where appropriate
  • fluency therapy for children who stammer
  • social communication support and interaction-based tasks
  • parent coaching and guidance
  • AAC modelling and communication partner training
Where telehealth is not clinically appropriate, this will be discussed openly, and alternative in-person options will be recommended.