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Multilingualism Unpacked: Helping Children Thrive in More Than One Language As a Speech and Language Therapist working with multilingual families, one of the most common themes I come across is a quiet uncertainty about whether using more than 1 language at home might affect a child’s speech or learning. It’s

Multilingualism in the Classroom: Supporting Children to Thrive Across Languages Across Greater Manchester, many children are growing up using more than one language. In some schools, multilingualism is the norm rather than the exception. Yet despite this, misconceptions about language development persist, and school staff are often faced with questions

Introduction If you’re a parent or carer wondering whether dummies are a friend or foe, this guide will help you navigate the pros and cons, so you can make the best choice for your child. Why do we use dummies? Dummies – also known as pacifiers or soothers – often

“Nothing About Me Without Me: Building Self-Advocacy Skills in Neurodivergent People” Every day, we advocate for ourselves in small but important ways. We might ask for a window to be opened when we feel too warm, request help to reach something we can’t access, or express when we disagree with

Every Child Belongs: Neurodiversity-Affirming Strategies for Inclusive Classrooms Not Less, Just Different: Rethinking How We Support Neurodiverse Learners “Oh her… she doesn’t say or do much. She just sits and does whatever,” the teaching assistant remarked as I took notes about the autistic child I’d been asked to observe. But

Digital Childhoods: How Screen Time Affects Language Development We’ve all heard it: “It’s those screens!” Screens are everywhere now — even toddlers and preschoolers spend time on phones, tablets, and TVs. But as speech and language therapists, parents, and professionals, we know the answer isn’t that simple. It’s not just

  Visuals for All: Inclusive Strategies Every Teacher Should Know Visuals help make the school environment feel more welcoming, predictable, and easier to understand for every student. And here’s the thing: visuals aren’t just for children with special educational needs. They’re a tool that supports all learners. Visuals Benefit Every

Wait… What Happened? Helping Kids Who Struggle to Tell Stories A guide for teachers Have you ever had a child come and tell you about their weekend, but everything is completely mixed up and hard to follow? Or maybe something happened on the playground, and when you ask them what

  Helping Your Child Tell You About Their School Day: Simple Strategies That Work For parents, asking “What did you do at school today?” feels like an important moment. It’s our way of checking in, showing interest, and staying connected to your child’s world. Yet so often, the answer is

You Don’t Need Expensive Tech: The Truth About Using AAC Where to start with AAC With the world of technology evolving all the time, there has never been more options out there for children who are unable to or have difficulty talking. A quick google search and you find a

Giving Children a Voice in Busy Classrooms Through AAC Imagine sitting in a classroom full of people, full of thoughts and ideas, but without a reliable way to share them. For many children, this is their daily experience. AAC gives children a voice when spoken language is not accessible. AAC

Before Phonics:  What Every Teacher Should Know About Phonological Awareness   Have you ever taught a child who knows all their letter sounds, can name every letter, but still can’t blend a simple word like cat or dog? Or maybe a pupil who speaks clearly but doesn’t seem to notice

Christmas and Speech, Language and Communication Needs Celebrating in a Way That Works for Your Child The festive season brings excitement, cosy moments, special traditions and time with family. But for many children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), it can also feel busy, different and a little overwhelming

Selective Mutism – Isn’t My Child Just Shy? Does your child suddenly go quiet around people who aren’t you? Maybe teachers or relatives say they’re “just shy.” Sometimes, what looks like shyness might actually be something more. Selective Mutism, or SM, is a type of anxiety that makes it really

Nursery Rhymes: More than just silly songs As a parent hearing the same songs over and over again quickly becomes a normal part of everyday life. We all have our favourites and ones we wish had never been written (is it just me or do children have some kind of