The Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service supports children and young people in Doncaster and Bassetlaw who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking, and swallowing.

The majority of children we see have difficulties with:

• understanding what is said to them
• expressing themselves
• talking clearly (saying speech sounds)
• stammering
• eating and drinking

The service sees children and young people in clinics, hospitals, schools, nurseries and other early years settings, and at home.

Accessing Children’s Speech and Language Therapy

Referrals can be made by anyone, including parents/carers, schools, GPs, and Health Visitors. Referrals from professionals must be made with parent/carer knowledge and permission.

Referrals can be made by downloading and completing the referral form here ​and communication checklist here (for children aged 2-5) ​or here (for children and young people aged 5-18)​

To access the service children and young people must:

• have a Doncaster or Bassetlaw GP
• meet the threshold for accessing targeted Speech and Language Therapy care.

Referrals for eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties must be made using our feeding referral form here.

Useful information and websites

Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service leaflets:

• Attention and listening development
• Conversational skills
• Eye contact
• Gesture, facial expression and body language
• Sharing attention and interaction
• Turn taking

Organisations that support speech, language, communication, and feeding

Speech and Language UK: A national children’s communication charity. Their website provides resources for both parents and professionals.

Afasic:  A charity that provides parents and families with information, advice and support about speech, language and communication needs

NAPLIC: A national organisation for Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists and other professionals, which aims to promote and increase awareness of speech, language and communication needs.

The Communication Trust: A national organisation that aims to support children and young people to develop their best possible language and communication skills by providing resources and training to parents and professionals. The website has lots of resources that schools can download and use.

BBC Tiny Happy People: A website to help parents/carers develop their children’s language skills, with simple activities and play ideas and information about babies’ and toddlers’ early development.

Words for Life: A website developed by the National Literacy Trust to give parents/carers an idea of what communication milestones their babies and children might reach as they grow. There are also ideas for activities to do together to help children develop their skills.

British Stammering Association: A national organisation offering help with and information about stammering. The website has sections for young people, parents, Teachers and Health Visitors.

National Autistic Society  A national organisation providing information and support to people with autism, their families, and those who work with them. The website has sections for parents, carers and families, as well as for professionals.

The Makaton Charity A national charity with international links which provides information about and training in the Makaton Programme, and a collection of signs and symbols designed to support children and adults with communication difficulties.

Communication Matters A national charity which promotes the best possible communication for people with complex communication needs, by increasing awareness about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

National Deaf Children’s Society A national charity for deaf children and young people. They support every deaf child who needs them.

Information for student Speech and Language Therapists

As a team we regularly provide placement opportunities for student Speech and Language Therapists from the University of Sheffield but have also arranged placements in partnership with other universities. We also consider work placement opportunities.

For further information please contact the student co-ordinators on dbth.saltpaedsstudents@nhs.net

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