The Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) service in Redbridge provides specialist assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment and management of communication and/or feeding  difficulties for children and young people aged up to 16 years, or up to 19 years for those with Speech Therapy indicated in their Education Health Care Plan and attending Astrum Academy, Gresham and Barley Lane sites.

We work with parents/care givers, early year’s practitioners, mainstream school staff, special school staff, social care teams and other healthcare professionals to create a supportive environment for the development of speech, language communication and feeding skills.

As a team, we support children and young people who are displaying difficulties with:

• Attention and listening
• Social communication
• Receptive language (understanding)
• Expressive language
• Articulation and phonology (speech sounds)
• Fluency (stammering)
• Voice production
• Selective mutism
• Eating, drinking and swallowing

We assess children’s speech and language skills using both formal (standardised) and informal assessment. Depending on the child’s needs, we may then allocate a care package.

In the preschool years we would usually see children and their families in their local community clinic, virtually or in nursery. Preschoolers are seen for assessment, following a parent workshop,  and for a block of individual therapy, if required. If the child is very young, then research has shown  that parents are best placed to help with the development of a young child’s speech and language skills, and so we also offer Parent Empowerment workshops to help parents/caregivers to support their child’s needs at home.

School aged children with speech, fluency or voice concerns are also seen within their local community clinic, or virtually and may again access assessment, individual therapy, and review sessions as needed.

School aged children with language and social communication difficulties are seen for assessment. We will assess and identify the nature of a child’s difficulties, then work in partnership with those who are supporting the child on a regular basis. We advise the school staff on how to manage the child’s communication environment in the classroom. Our role is to   advise all communication partners about how to optimize communication and learning opportunities for each child, and to help with differentiation (modifying and adapting) of the curriculum to make it more accessible to children with language difficulties.

• Children and young people with Speech and Language Therapy quantified on their Educational Health Care Plan are transferred to our London Borough of Redbridge partners, who will provide for the ongoing Speech and Language Therapy needs

• Children with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties are usually seen at The Grove, or sometimes in their home or school setting if this is what is best for the child. They are seen within the context of a multi-disciplinary team, alongside other health professionals as needed to support their care.

Contact our service in Redbridge

Speech and Language Therapy Service (SALT)
The Grove, Specialist Community Health Services for Children and Young People
Grove Road
Chadwell Heath
RM6 4XH

The Grove: Tel 0300 300 1618 Option 1

Email: SPAReferrals.Redbridge@nelft.nhs.uk (for referrals only)
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
 

Referrals

Referrals will be accepted from parents/guardians, GPs, and other professionals in health, education and social care.

Referrals can be emailed using the single referral form through single point of access (SPA). Please refer to the For clinicians page for more information.