How to get extra help if you are worried

You might have some worries about your child and their speech, language and communication.

This section is for you if your child needs some extra help.

• Your child’s health visitor - (click here for a handy summary sheet to print)
• The school nurse
• Your doctor / GP
• Your child’s nursery or childminder
• Your Family Support worker
• Your social worker
• Pop into your local Family Hub to ask how to get extra help
• View the support available below

Speech and Language UK have a free helpline where you can have a chat with a Speech and Language Therapist.

These are not assessments but might give you some guidance or advice on where you can get more help.

Are you worried about your child's speech and/or language development?

Chai and Chat may be able to help. The sessions are delivered by Nicki and Caroline who are qualified speech and language therapists with over 20 years experience.

Groups take place with with around 4 other families at a time. They provide a safe space for parents to access professional help and connect with other families.

Open to all families across the district with children who are:

• aged over 18 months
• aged under 5 and are not yet in full-time education

Groups take place in community spaces and they can provide Urdu and Punjabi interpreters to families who do not speak English as a first language.

Register your interest

For more information you can message Mahum on 07453925805. 

Family Hubs and Start for Life

Across the Bradford district our Family Hubs support families with children and young people of all ages and at every stage of family life. 

Family Hubs are places in the heart of the community where you can attend appointments, meet with staff for a chat, or take part in courses and activities.

The Incredible Years Preschool Programme

Incredible Years Preschool have been funded to deliver a brand new programme for families with children aged 3 to 4 years.

The programme will be suitable for any family that would like a bit of extra help with child attachment issues, language development concerns, their behaviour, or confidence with social situations.

Families can self-refer or practitioners can make a referral with consent.

Find out more and apply by visiting our Parenting Programmes for Families page.

Speech and Language Therapy Services

More targeted support information can be found on the BDCFT SALT website:

Children's Speech and Language Therapy-BDCT

Help for children with Autism

The National Autistic Society has a wide range of advice and guidance about autism. This includes a section on understanding and developing communication, visual tools, communication tools and top tips.

AWARE is a parent-run group supporting families with children and young adults on the autistic spectrum (formal diagnosis not required). The group covers the Airedale, Wharfedale, Bradford and Craven areas and beyond. More information is available on our Services Directory listing.

Makaton

Many children and adults use Makaton symbols and signs, either as their main method of communication or as a way to support speech.

In addition to children and adults with communication and learning difficulties and the community around them - for example, teachers, health professionals, friends, public service bodies etc. - Makaton is increasingly used by the general public to aid communication. 

Makaton has been shown to be useful for all sorts of people including those who struggle with understanding concepts, those who have poor literacy skills, including grammatical knowledge, and those with English as an Additional Language.

By using Makaton, children and adults can take a more active part in life, because communication and language are the key to everything we do and learn.

For more information and to access some free resources, visit the Makaton website.

Local Offer

The Bradford SEND Local Offer website can direct you to local services and events that are specifically for babies and children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND).