The Speech and Language Helpline
How to get extra help if you are worried
Targeted services - extra help for you
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.
Who should I speak to if I have concerns?
- 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
Local support for you
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.
Wise Owls and Owlets
Family Hubs have received some extra funding from the government called Start for Life. We have funded BHT Early Education and Training to support families all across the district if they have concerns about their child's speech and language. There are two parts to the support we have funded:
- a 'Wise Owl' drop-in session for families with children aged 18 months-4 years, taking place weekly in each area of the district. You can find these sessions on the Family Hub timetables
- a six week focused programme called 'Owlets' which is accessed by a referral from your health visitor
The Incredible Years Preschool Programme
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:
Appointments with our Educational Psychologist team
If you're concerned about your child's education or development, our monthly Jump Aboard sessions with educational psychologists can help.
- For parents/carers of children and young people aged up to age 16.
- Talk through your concerns and get general advice and suggestions for what is available locally to help you support your child.
- Can cover special educational needs and disabilities (SEND); social, emotional and mental health (SEMH); speech, language and communication; and neurodivergent needs such as ADHD and autism.
- Information about SEND systems and processes in the Bradford District.
These Family Hub sessions with the Educational Psychology Team are free to parents and carers, funded by Family Hubs and Start for Life.
Jump Aboard sessions take place at least once per month at Rainbow Family Hub, Farcliffe Family Hub, Barkerend Family Hub and Reevy Hill Family Hub.
Booking is essential - call or pop in to your local family hub. For session dates and times, click here for links to each hub's latest timetables.
BHT Talking Together
child’s current language and communication skills.
If your child is identified as being at risk of language delay, a referral to BHT Early Education and Training’s Talking Together programme can be offered, or alternatively the Language Development Worker would make any necessary referrals onto other agencies if required.
Further support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
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).