Children's Speech and Language Therapy

New referral process from July 2024

Please note: Between 1st June and 1st July 2024 no new referrals will be accepted by the service for communication needs. This is to allow time to introduce a new referral process, aimed at increasing the quality of referrals and providing a more supportive wait for children/young people and their families.

It will still be possible to make eating, drinking and swallowing referrals throughout this period via this link locala.org.uk/ereferrals/childrens-speech-and-language-feeding-north-only

What do we do?

Our Locala Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) work with children aged 0-18 years who have communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.

The information here is for anyone who lives with or supports a child or young person who needs help with their talking, understanding, social interaction, eating or drinking.

There are pages of advice and information for parents and carers, as well as a section for professionals working with children and young people.

This includes:

advice and resources to support children and young people with speech, language, and communication needs
advice and resources to support children and young people with drinking and eating difficulties
Information to help you decide whether you need to refer your Under-18 to the Speech and Language Therapy Service
And if you do need to refer, there's information about how to do so and access to some simple pre-referral assessements.

Getting help and advice

Please click on the menu buttons on this page to access the information sections for parents and carers, and for professionals - including our new referral criteria.

Patient story

To read Sam's story, click here.

Get Involved with

At Locala Health and Wellbeing we are committed to our patients, and the wider community, is at the heart of all that we do. We want to hear what our patients and communities are saying, and involve you in how our community healthcare services are delivered. There are different ways you can get involved including:

Becoming a member - be better informed about Locala and our services, and receive invitations to complete surveys, attend events, be a mystery shopper, look at patient feedback and join in discussions - you can be involved as much, or as little, as you like.

Volunteering to work directly with our services - you can use your skills and experiences to support our services and benefit our patients.

Visit our 'Tell Us What You Think' - let us know what you think about the services you have used. We do listen and do make changes based on the feedback we get.

Get Involved

Parents and carers

Professionals