Speech and language therapy guidelines - 2 years 0 months to 2 years 5 months

Refer to Speech and Language Therapy if:

• Parents / carers have accessed and implemented the following support for 3 months and there has been no / minimal progress: 

• • Attended an Early Talk Group* at their local Family Centre and have had a follow up call (your health visitor can refer you to Early Talk)
  • FOLLOW - Top Tips for Talking Webinar and FOLLOW postcard on the Early Years Webpage.

AND the child has difficulty with any of the following:

• does not react to spoken language, e.g. following routine requests such as ‘arms up’ when putting a jumper on
• does not understand simple instructions e.g. pointing to an object in a book, instructions such as 'go and get your shoes' when you are not looking or pointing at the same time.

*Early Talk is not appropriate for children with social communication and interaction differences.

If there are concerns around spoken language at this age, needs can be met by targeted support without a referral to the service in most cases. 

Targeted support:
•    Watch the FOLLOW - Top Tips for Talking Webinar and look at the FOLLOW postcard on the Early Years Webpage. 
•    Parents/carers can attend an Early Talk Group* (from age 20m) at their local Family Centre and access a follow up call (your health visitor can refer you to Early Talk).

If you still have significant concerns about a child after they have accessed this support, please contact us to discuss whether a referral is appropriate. Contact our advice line on (01923) 470680 Option 3, Option 1 and leave a message for a member of our team to call you back.

*Early Talk is not appropriate for children with social communication and interaction differences.

Refer to Speech and Language Therapy, if:

•    Parents/carers have accessed and implemented the following support for 3 months and there has been no/minimal progress: 
       o    JOIN Webinar and JOIN postcard
       o    Say, Show, Wait Webinar

AND the child has any of the following:

• Minimal interactions with familiar adults e.g. not seeking them out, not initiating or responding to them during an interactive game such as peek a boo.
• Not yet including others in their communication e.g. cries next to fridge when hungry without gaining adult’s attention first

Refer to Speech and Language Therapy, if…

• the child has cleft related speech sound concerns and the referral is from a specialist cleft centre or other relevant professionals
• the child has cleft related speech errors or nasal speech in the absence of identified cleft palate.

If there are concerns around speech (unrelated to cleft or nasal speech), at this age, needs can be met by targeted support without a referral to the service in most cases. 

Targeted support:

• Watch the SPEECH Sounds Webinar and look at the SPEECH postcard on the Speech Sounds Webpage.
• If you still have significant concerns about a child after they have accessed this support please contact us to discuss whether a referral is appropriate. Contact our advice line on (01923) 470680 Option 3, Option 1 and leave a message for a member of our team to call you back.