Children's Speech and Language Therapy
The website and our Facebook page have lots of advice about how to support children and young people's speech, language and communication or their eating, drinking and swallowing.
The resources on this site will:
- Help you know more about how communication develops.
- Give you some ideas about how to help your child.
- Tell you about services for children's speech, language, communication, eating, drinking and swallowing.
Our advice line offers help if you cannot find the information/support you need on this site.
Our services
The children's speech and language therapy team offer a variety of services to support babies, children and young people in the Shropshire area. Click on the relevant links, below, to find out more.
New patients
The service is available for any child or young person registered with a GP practice that is affiliated to NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB, and for Children in Care by agreement with their Responsible Commissioner.
How do you refer into this service?
You will find the referral forms on the Getting more help page.
We only accept electronic referrals. Referrals should be emailed to: shropcom.childtherapyreferrals@nhs.net
Urgent and High Priority Referral
For Children with high risk eating, drinking and swallowing needs, cleft lip and palate, and early years complex needs complete an Early Years referral or a School Age referral. If you are unsure call the Advice Line on 01743 450800 (option 4). Also look at the information on this site.
Talk Boost update
To make a booking please email: cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk
Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC)
Contact us
Contacts by location
Shropshire services:
Coral House
11 Longbow Close
Harlescott Lane
Shrewsbury
SY1 3QZ
Tel: 01743 450800
Telford and Wrekin services:
The Stepping Stones Centre
Brunel Road
Malinslee
Telford
TF3 2BF
Tel: 01952 567300
Advice line
The Speech and Language Therapy Advice Line is available to parents and carers of children currently on our caseloads, those referred and those not known to the service. School staff or other professionals can also seek support but can only access the Advice Line regarding a specific child with explicit parental permission. New referrals and re-referrals made by families of children and young people will be directed to the Advice Line.
Speech and Language Therapy Advice Line number: 01743 450800 (option 4)
Who are we?
The Children's Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Service in Shropshire provides assessment and treatment of speech, language, communication and/or eating, drinking and swallowing needs for children and young people from birth to 16 years old (or to 19 years if in full time education).
Speech and Language Therapists are "Allied Health Professionals" and are governed by two organisations;
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): all Speech and Language Therapists must be registered with this organisation in order to call themselves Qualified Speech and Language Therapists.
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT): to be eligible for full membership of this organisation members must have successfully completed a degree qualification in Speech and Language Therapy.
We are a team of 26 whole time equivalent therapists and assistants. Most of us work part time so there are 42 team members. We work across a variety of settings including the Child Development Centres.
For information about our service please see our handbook.
Our Values and Principles
Parents have told us that they wish to have a leading role in their child’s care and be supported to develop the skills and confidence to help their child. This means that wherever possible our first contact for a child will be with their family. Parents and carers will be invited to all relevant training workshops and coaching sessions.
Where a private or NHS therapist can meet the needs of a child/young person's speech, language and communication needs, we believe it is best for them, their family, and education setting to be seeing one therapist whenever possible. This means that parents can choose whether to receive private therapy or be seen by a therapist working for the NHS. A child may need to see other specialist therapists working privately or for the NHS, if they have more than one area of need. Private or NHS therapy may be more helpful at different times and for different needs, so with careful planning the children will be able to receive the care they need.
Wherever possible we feel it is important to share information to everyone who supports the child/young person's development. This means we may ask for your help with the contact details of non resident parents.
Speech and Language Therapists, support staff and administrators are committed to our NHS values.
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust values:
- Improving lives in our communities
- Everyone Counts
- Respect and Dignity
- Compassionate Care
- Working Together
- Commitment to Quality
Current waiting time
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and our "Local Offer"
What is the Local Offer?
The local offer provides information for children and young people with special educational needs (SEND) and their parents or carers in a single place. You can find out more about information about this on our SEND reforms and Local Offers page.
SEND/Local Offer information
Full SEND and Local Offer details are located elsewhere:
The Children's SLT Service works across all of Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire, closely with partners in both Local Authorities and across the wider children’s workforce, to identify, assess and support children and young people with speech, language, communication and/or eating, drinking and swallowing needs.
In line with the Children and Families Act 2014 each local authority has a Local Offer which aims to bring together useful information across education, health and social care in one place for children and young people, their families, and for professionals. You can find information, advice and guidance, and a range of local service providers who support children and young people aged 0-25 years with SEND.
Please click here to access the Telford and Wrekin SEND Local Offer
Please click here to access the Shropshire SEND Local Offer
About the local offer I Shropshire Council
Please click here for further information on the trust’s local offer for children and young people with SEND (https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/send-local-offer)
How can families complain if they are not happy with the service?
All complaints are handled by our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and Complaints teams.