Community Speech and Language Therapy

The Alder Hey Community Speech and Language Therapy service (covering Sefton and Liverpool), work with children and young people in collaboration with parents or carers and an educational setting like their school/nursery. The evidence tells us this approach leads to the best outcomes for the children and young people.

We provide assessment, advice and therapy, and have an open referral system with parental consent.

We work in collaboration with parents or carers and other professionals in a variety of settings, including clinics, schools, nurseries, and occasionally in the family home.

To be seen by an Alder Hey Community Speech and Language Therapist, your child will need to have a Sefton or Liverpool GP.

How to refer to us

Before referring to the Alder Hey Community Speech and Language Therapy Service, it is important that you talk to your child’s; Health Visitor, the link worker from your local children centre/wellbeing hub or your child’s teacher or SENCo from their nursery/school first if you have concerns about your child’s speech, language and communication development.

They may be able to offer you advice and strategies which answer your questions or resolve your concerns, so you don’t need to see us. If, however, you have tried lots of ideas and are still worried, your child may need to see a Speech and Language Therapist.

Completing the referral form is the first stage in gathering information about your child’s communication and development and any concerns you or the setting might have. We also need to know what you have tried already; what is worrying you the most; and how you think speech and language therapy could help.

You can make a referral by completing the following form in full and emailing it to [email protected]. If you do not complete the forms in full or provide insufficient information, the referral will not be accepted, and it will be returned to you explaining what you need to do next.

To refer to the Speech & Language Therapy Feeding and Swallowing team please complete the following form in full and email it to [email protected].

Download referral form (104kB)

How can I help my child?

If you are worried about your child’s speech and language or communication skills, there are lots of ways you can help before a referral is considered.

Children’s centres, family centres, and wellbeing centres have had additional training from Community Speech and Language Therapy. They organise lots of groups and activities that will benefit your child’s early language development. You can contact your local centre and speak to the link worker or centre manager for further information.

• https://liverpool.gov.uk/children-and-families/early-years-and-childcare/childrens-centres
• https://www.sefton.gov.uk/childrens-services/schools-and-learning/early-years/partners/family-wellbeing-centres/

If your child is in school, you can talk to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) about your concerns. The SENCo will have experience and additional knowledge about what help is available to support your child’s speech, language, and communication needs.

This might include additional school activities, school support, advice on things you can do at home, and general information on how your child’s language and communication skills can be developed alongside their general learning in the classroom.

If your child is not yet at school, your Health Visitor can also give you some advice about speech, language and communication development.

Primary School Speech, Language and Communication Toolkit

Please follow link below to view the Primary School Speech, Language and Communication Toolkit.

Liverpool Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Toolkit

Click the button below to view the Liverpool Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Toolkit.

Advice leaflets

Here you can find some general advice on ways to support your child’s speech, language and communication. You can find further information on the recommended websites on this page, or you can contact us.

First steps for language development

• Play, it’s great for learning language
• Singing with your child
• Looking at books with your child
• Ideas to encourage turn taking
• Using signing and gesture to support language

Understanding spoken language (language comprehension)

• Helping your child understand language

Using words and sentences (expressive language)

• Starting out with words
• Putting words together
• Helping your child to sequence language

Speech sounds (phonology)

• Strategies to help understand unclear speech

Other

• What is selective mutism?

Follow us on Social Media

Follow us on Twitter @AHHSLTSefton and @AlderHeySLTLiv where we post ideas for activities and resources at home and keep checking back here for ideas and resources.

Useful Websites

Liverpool

• Liverpool Family Information & SEND Directory | SEND Local Offer
• Liverpool Early Help Directory
• 24 Magic Months
• https://liverpool.gov.uk/children-and-families/early-years-and-childcare/childrens-centres/
• Down’s Syndrome Liverpool

Sefton

• Local Offer – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities | The Sefton Directory
• https://www.sefton.gov.uk/childrens-services/schools-and-learning/early-years/partners/speech-and-language/
• https://seftonearlyyears.uk/Training
• https://www.seftoneducation.uk/Page/20793
• https://www.sefton.gov.uk/childrens-services/schools-and-learning/early-years/families/

Liverpool and Sefton

• Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives (formerly ICAN)
• ADDvanced Solutions
• Down’s Syndrome Association
• National Autistic Society
• British Stammering Association
• https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people
• https://literacytrust.org.uk/early-years/
• https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/look-say-sing-play/
• https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/early-learning-development/

Early years (Liverpool and Sefton)

Start for Life – 90% of your child’s brain growth happens before the age of 5. Right from the start, all those little moments you spend together are building their brain. Every smile, cuddle, chat and game makes a huge difference, helping them learn to communicate, develop confidence and make friends. Find lots of ideas, easy tips and activities you can do together with your child.

Tiny Happy People – Tips, advice and activities looking at all areas of speech, language and communication for children who are developing as expected and those who need more support. Lots of videos and support for families and professionals.

National Literacy Trust – Early years programmes and resources for professionals to share with families.

Look Say Sing Play – Whether it’s bathtime, bedtime or you’re washing up, playing with your child, using silly voices, or even singing can build their brain right from birth. It’s a great way to have fun while making your bond even stronger. Brain-building happens when you and your little one are interacting with each other. It’s about taking a cue from them, and reacting to what they’re doing. You could think of it like a game of tennis – going back and forth between the two of you. These shared moments with your child nurture their growing minds, helping them to build key skills – like focus, self-control and problem-solving – which will support them right through childhood and into later life.

Early years (Liverpool)

Liverpool City Council – Children’s centres bring together a range of free services for children from birth to five, and their families. Services vary at each centre according to local community needs, but all centres provide child and family health, family support services and a range of parent and toddler activities. Including support and activities linked to developing your child’s speech, language and communication.

24 Magic Months – A free app developed by Liverpool City Council which provides advice and information on how they can support their baby’s development from birth up to two years old. This includes up-to-date advice and information on topics including speech, language and communication development, behaviour, sleep, and development milestones.

Early years (Sefton)

Sefton Council – Information about the Sefton Early Years Integrated Speech, Language and Communication Pathway, our vision and support to develop the speech, language, and communication of all children in the early years in Sefton.

Sefton Early Years – Information for early years practitioners about training in Sefton including training on speech, language and communication such as Elklan and Language Champions.

Sefton Council Speech, Language and Communication Early Years Resources – early years resources, websites and articles related to speech, language and communication development in the Early Years.

Sefton Early Years Offer – Information for families, early years practitioners and other professionals. From the moment your baby enters the world they are ready and eager to learn. Birth to five years is one of the most important times in your child’s development. The following information, research and links will support both you and your child to thrive during these first years together.

Sefton Family Wellbeing Hubs – Information and timetables for activities and support at Sefton Family Wellbeing hubs.

Where are we based?

The Liverpool Team are based at:

Kilby House
Liverpool Innovation Park
Digital Way
Liverpool
L7 9NJ

Patient clinic appointments do not take place at Liverpool Innovation Park.

For general information and to contact us, please call 0151 295 3990.
We also have a fax number: 0151 295 3991.

The Sefton Team are based at:

Blossom House
Park Road
Waterloo
Liverpool
L22 3XE

For general information and to contact us, please call 0151 282 4973.

You can also email both Teams at the following address for general queries [email protected]

When will I get an appointment, where will I be seen, and what if I can’t come?

The demand for our service is high, and we have a waiting list for a first appointment. This means we must follow our Trust Patient Access policy with regards to appointments to ensure people who need them are able to get one as soon as possible.

When your child is near the top of our waiting list you will be sent a letter asking you to call us to book in a suitable day, time and clinic.

Please be aware your child will be discharged, and you will need a new referral if:

• If you don’t call us within two weeks of receiving a choose and book letter
• If you do not attend your appointment and fail to cancel
• If you cancel two consecutive appointments

Your child will be discharged and you will need to go back to your referrer and ask them to make a new referral.

If you cannot attend an appointment but have cancelled beforehand, we will arrange a new appointment for you. Please make sure you can attend this rearranged appointment.