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Children’s Speech + Language Therapy - play-based, parent-led, evidence-based.

Early language delay, unclear speech, stammering, DLD, autism-related communication, selective mutism, cleft palate, and paediatric feeding. An HCPC-registered paediatric SLT who works with your child and with you.

See indicative pricing
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Indicative pricing

What private paediatric SLT costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our paediatric SLT network.

In short

£720–£1,150, delivered over 6–8 weeks.

Session or block Indicative range
Initial paediatric SLT assessment £220–£380
Follow-up therapy session £120–£190
Block of 6 sessions £720–£1,150
Block of 12 sessions £1,400–£2,250
School or nursery visit surcharge £80–£180
EHCP advice report £450–£850
Video consultation (parent coaching) £90–£150

Prices vary by therapist seniority, whether sessions are in clinic, at home or in school, and whether formal reports for EHCPs are needed.

The problem

The right paediatric SLT, at the right stage - not a waiting list.

Paediatric SLT is where NHS waiting lists bite hardest, and where the wrong therapist can waste months. We fix routing and dose before the block begins.

  • A paediatric SLT, not an adult SLT with kids on the list

    Autism, DLD, feeding, cleft - each is its own sub-specialty. We route by fit, not availability.

  • Parents in the room, every session

    Between sessions is where the change happens. We coach parents deliberately, not as an afterthought.

  • Evidence for EHCPs when needed

    Reports written to the standard local authorities actually accept - not a two-line letter.

When it helps

When paediatric SLT is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means paediatric ENT or safeguarding urgently, not a therapy booking.

  • Late talker (under 3)

    Fewer than 50 words by age 2 or not combining words by 2½. We assess and give parents strategies while watching for red flags.

  • Unclear speech

    Family can understand but strangers cannot - usually a speech sound disorder. Targeted therapy from age 3–4.

  • Developmental language disorder (DLD)

    Persistent difficulty understanding and using language, with normal hearing and no known cause. Long-term therapy plus school support.

  • Stammering in children

    Best treated early - Lidcombe or Palin Parent-Child Interaction. Six to twelve weekly sessions is typical.

  • Autism-related communication

    Social communication, echolalia, AAC where useful. Neurodiversity-affirming, family-centred approaches.

  • Selective mutism

    Consistent silence in specific settings despite fluent speech at home. Structured, gradual approach with school partnership.

  • Paediatric feeding and dysphagia

    Fussy eating, texture aversion, weight faltering, aspiration risk. Joint working with paediatric dietitians.

  • Red flag: sudden loss of language

    A child losing words or skills, sudden swallow deterioration, choking on saliva, or safeguarding concern - urgent paediatric or safeguarding review, not a routine therapy booking.

Therapy types

Every paediatric SLT problem has a matching sub-specialty.

What each pathway involves - the assessment tools, the dosing, and what a realistic outcome looks like for a child of your child’s age.

  • Late-talker parent coaching

    Under-3s - parent-implemented interventions (Hanen It Takes Two to Talk) coaching modelling, waiting and expansion.

  • Speech sound disorder therapy

    For unclear speech at 3+. Phonological or articulation therapy tuned to your child’s specific pattern.

  • DLD therapy

    Vocabulary, grammar and narrative work paired with school liaison. Blocks plus classroom strategies.

  • Lidcombe and Palin PCI

    Evidence-based programmes for early stammering (2–7 and 7+). Parent-led, coach-guided.

  • Autism-related communication

    Social communication, AAC assessment (PECS, LAMP, TD Snap), neurodiversity-affirming goals.

  • Selective mutism programme

    Structured sliding-in with parents and school. Anxiety-first, communication-second.

  • Paediatric feeding therapy

    Responsive feeding, texture progression, cup and straw skills. Joint working with dietetics and paediatrics.

  • Cleft palate speech therapy

    Articulation and resonance work after primary cleft repair, in liaison with the regional cleft team.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Paediatric SLT is safe and non-invasive. What matters is picking the right block length for your child and getting parents fully involved from day one.

  • It is safe, but it is parent-led work

    Paediatric SLT is non-invasive. The gains come from what happens between sessions, which is why we coach parents in the room.

  • Blocks are the norm - not open-ended therapy

    Six or twelve session blocks with clear goals. If goals are met, we step down. If not, we re-plan.

  • Feeding therapy is treated cautiously

    Any aspiration risk gets a videofluoroscopy or FEES first. We do not push textures without instrumental clearance where needed.

  • Autism support is neurodiversity-affirming

    Goals set with parents and, where possible, the child. We do not aim for masking; we aim for functional, confident communication.

  • Hearing must be checked first

    Any child with delayed speech gets a recent audiology check before therapy starts. Glue ear is the great missed diagnosis.

  • Selective mutism is anxiety-first

    We work with the anxiety before we push for speech. Rushing this delays progress.

  • Insurance often excludes developmental delay

    Speech sound disorders and stammering are often covered; DLD and autism support are often not.

  • Discharge is a plan, not a full stop

    A written home plan, review-on-request access for a set period, and clear re-referral triggers if things regress.

  • Red flags: sudden loss of language, choking, safeguarding concerns

    These need urgent paediatric or safeguarding review, not the next therapy slot.

Reading your notes

Your child’s report in four parts. Read the last one first.

The report the paediatric SLT sends you keeps to the same shape whatever the presenting problem.

A paediatric SLT writing a report after a play-based assessment

A quiet reminder

Clinical language is precise - we translate it if you would like.

If you would like us to talk you through your notes before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Presenting concern and history

    What parents came in with, in their own words, developmental history, and any prior assessments.

  2. 02 Assessment

    Standardised and observational findings

    Scores on age-appropriate batteries (CELF-5UK, DEAP, RCADS, ADOS-2 where relevant) plus what the SLT observed in play.

  3. 03 Therapy

    Sessions delivered and outcomes

    Number of sessions, approaches used, home strategy uptake, and how goals moved between baseline, mid-block and end.

  4. 04 Plan

    Home plan, school liaison, next steps

    Read this first: the home strategies, the school-facing note, EHCP recommendations, and when to re-refer.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Cover for paediatric SLT is variable - some policies exclude developmental conditions and school-based therapy.

Frequently asked

Everything parents ask about paediatric SLT.

Quick answers on waiting lists, home visits, EHCPs, cost and cover.

  • At what age should I worry about my child’s speech?

    By 18 months most children say six or more words. By 2 they combine two words. By 3 they use short sentences that strangers can mostly understand. Any child noticeably behind these markers benefits from an assessment - not to label them, but to give parents useful strategies.

  • What is the difference between a speech delay and DLD?

    A speech delay usually catches up with time and a bit of coaching. Developmental language disorder is a persistent difficulty with understanding and using language that does not resolve on its own, and needs specific therapy plus school support. Assessment is what tells them apart.

  • Do you write reports for EHCP applications?

    Yes. Our paediatric SLTs write reports to the standard local authorities accept - quantified impact, specific provision, and outcomes phrased as SMART targets. We do not tick boxes; we write reports that survive tribunal.

  • How much does private paediatric SLT cost in the UK?

    Initial assessments run £220–£380, follow-up sessions £120–£190, and blocks of six or twelve sessions £720–£1,150 or £1,400–£2,250. Standalone EHCP reports run £450–£850.

  • Will private health insurance cover children’s speech therapy?

    It is patchier than for adults. Speech sound disorders after otitis media, and stammering, are often covered. DLD, autism-related communication and selective mutism are often excluded as developmental conditions.

  • Can you visit our home, nursery or school?

    Yes across London and most major UK cities, with a modest visit surcharge. School and nursery visits are often the fastest route to real functional change, and are strongly encouraged for autism and selective mutism work.

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