Kayleigh Smeaton ​

Kayleigh is a Speech and Language Therapist at SpeechWise. She became a therapist to help young people understand their own communication styles and advocate for themselves. Passionate about equitable access to communication, she supports individuals through spoken language, Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC), and other multimodal approaches. She believes that everyone has the ability to communicate, provided there are others willing to understand and engage with them.

Kayleigh graduated with a BA (Hons) in Psychological & Behavioural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Speech and Language Therapy from Manchester Metropolitan University, qualifying in 2019. She joined SpeechWise in 2023 after working in the NHS with children and young people in both mainstream and specialist settings. Her expertise focuses on neurodivergent children, including those with autism, ADHD and social, emotional & mental health (SEMH) needs. She has a special interest in sensory integration and collaborates with Occupational Therapy colleagues to provide holistic, neurodiversity-affirming care. As a neurodivergent therapist, Kayleigh is proud of her differences, which help her connect meaningfully with the students she works with.

Her top tip for supporting communication? Regulation comes first – ensuring children feel safe and well-regulated is key to enabling communication and learning.

Outside of work, Kayleigh enjoys swimming, reading, and indulging her love for creatures great and small.

Kayleigh is registered with the HCPC, RCSLT, and holds an Enhanced DBS check.