What does this service provide?

We provide support to children and young people aged 0 to 16 years old (up to 19 years old in Special and Complex Needs Schools) with speech, language, communication difficulties and/or swallowing difficulties. 

Who we are 

We are a team of speech and language therapists and assistants who are trained to help children to develop their communication skills. 

What we do 

Some children find talking and listening harder than others. They might find it hard to understand what words and sentences mean. Some struggle to find the right words or sounds to use and put them in order. These children may need help from a speech and language therapist or assistant to develop good communication skills. We offer assessment, advice and support in close partnership with families and other professionals.  

We work with children in a variety of locations including health clinics, Child Development Centres, schools, hospitals, and pre-school settings. 

We can advise and help develop the following: 

  • attention and listening
  • play skills
  • understanding and using spoken language
  • recognising and producing speech sounds
  • using language socially
  • other ways of communicating, e.g., using signing and symbols
  • voice production
  • fluency/stammering

Appointment information

Appointment types 

Your appointment letter and an SMS text will provide you with information on your appointment location. Typically, school aged children and young people are seen in school. 

We offer face-to-face, virtual and telephone appointments. We also offer individual and group appointments, and some parent only workshop sessions. 

Services are provided through the following focused areas:


How can I access this service?

Most children with speech and language difficulties are identified for assessment by the Healthy Child Programme Team before they go to school. Children at school with speech and language difficulties are usually referred to the speech and language service by the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or school nurse. 

If you think that your child might have speech and language difficulties, you should speak to the health visitor or the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) at your child’s early years provider or school who will be able to offer advice and support. You can also contact us directly if you are worried and would like more advice. 


Where can I access this service?

Waiting times 

You will be advised of the waiting time for the clinic or service your child has been referred to in an acknowledgement letter. 

Contact details  

Brighton and Hove
Contact details
Telephone: 01273 242 079
Opening hours

We are open Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 4:30pm (excluding bank holidays). 

Where to find us
Address: The Children and Families Clinic, Dyke Building, Brighton General Hospital, Elm Grove, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 3EW

You can find us using the what3words address snippet below on the what3words website:

Alternatively, use the Google map below to get directions and plan your journey:

West Sussex West Area
Areas covered

West Sussex West Area (including Bognor Regis, Chichester and Midhurst).

Contact details
Telephone: 01273 696 011 (extension 5108)
Opening hours

We are open Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm (excluding bank holidays). 

Where to find us
Address: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, Speech and Language Therapy Service, Bicentennial Building , 2nd Floor, Terminus Road, Chichester, PO19 8EZ

You can find us using the what3words address snippet below on the what3words website:

Alternatively, use the Google map below to get directions and plan your journey:

West Sussex North Area
Area covered

West Sussex North Area (including Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex).

Contact details
Telephone: 01403 620 445
Opening hours

We are open Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm (excluding bank holidays). 

Where to find us
Address: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, Speech and Language Therapy Service, Horsham Hospital, Hurst Road, Horsham, RH12 2DR

You can find us using the what3words address snippet below on the what3words website:

Alternatively, use the Google map below to get directions and plan your journey:

West Sussex South Area
Areas covered

West Sussex South Area (including Shoreham, Worthing and Littlehampton).

Contact details
Telephone: 01273 265 953
Opening hours

We are open Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm (excluding bank holidays). 

Where to find us
Address: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, Speech and Language Therapy Service, Unit 5 The Quadrant, 60 Marlborough Road, Lancing Business Park, Lancing, BN15 8UW

You can find us using the what3words address snippet below on the what3words website:

Alternatively, use the Google map below to get directions and plan your journey:


Where can I find resources for this service?

Early years 

Start for lifeNHS website with lots of videos and tips about your child’s feeding development. 

ICAN charity 

BBC tiny happy people – activities and ideas for developing your child’s communication skills. There are also regular posts on Instagram. 

Words for life – ideas for supporting language development based around chatting, playing, and reading. 

Speech and language UK 

Health for under 5’s – information for parents about a range of health issues. 

Local libraries (Brighton and Hove)/ Local libraries (West Sussex) - your local library is a wonderful source of amazing books that are all free to borrow. Pop in to join (free) and find out more. Look out for ‘Baby Boogie and ‘Story Time’ sessions, and other activities for children.  

Complex needs

Makaton 

Autistic spectrum

National Autistic Society 

PECS: An Evidence-Based Practice 

Autism Navigator – general advice 

Autism Toolbox – Autism Resources 

Literacy

National Literacy Trust | UK Literacy Charity 

Children's Books for Speech Therapy - Book Share Time 

Video resources

General parent-child interaction

Get down to your child's level (Leeds NHS) 

Comment on what you’re both doing (Leeds NHS) 

Model words correctly (Leeds NHS) 

Dummie & Bottles (Leeds NHS) 

Give Choices (Leeds NHS) 

Reduce Screen Time (Leeds NHS) 

Share books & nursery Rhymes (Leeds NHS) 

Follow your Child's lead (Leeds NHS) 

Playing is fun (Leeds NHS) 

Reduce Questions (Leeds NHS) 

Language Pyramid (Leeds NHS) 

General – language

Communication Foundations (Health Brain Architecture) 

Role of the Parent in Early Language Development (Hanen) 

You are the key to your child's first words (Hanen) 

Early 2 Way Conversations (Hanen) 

Sounds and gestures: building blocks for your child's first words (Hanen) 

Gestures (First Words Project) 

Gestures (First Words Project) 

Baby Group (BBC) 

Toddler time (BBC) 

Social Communication/ Autism

OWL, Join In, Imitate, Follow Child's Lead (Hanen) 

Sensory Preferences (Hanen) 

People Games (Hanen) 

Make yourself the most exciting thing in the room (Hanen) 

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

AFASIC/ What to look out for in school aged children 

Speech and Language UK 

The NAPLIC 

Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder - RADLD 

DLD and me 

Help my Kid Learn 

Dysphagia

Start for lifeNHS website with lots of videos and tips about your child’s feeding development. 

Child feeding guidestrategies and tools for fussy eating and creating happy mealtimes. 

Toddler and Infant Nutrition Advice - Infant & Toddler Forum 

Feeding mattersan American website with lots of information and resources for children with feeding difficulties. 

IDDSI International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiativecontains information on levels of food and drink texture and consistency and how to test levels accurately. 

The food chain – why can’t my child swallow?an informative podcast on BBC sounds about swallowing difficulties in children with information from the perspective of parents and families. 

What happens in a videofluorscopy video - videofluoroscopy is an investigation that may be requested for your child to help clarify specific swallowing difficulties. 

Understanding and managing fussy eating video 

Stammering

The British Stammering Association 

Michael Palin centre for stammering 

Action for stammering children 

Deafness

National Deaf Children’s Society 

RNID - National hearing loss charity 

Cleft palate

Cleft UK 

Children's Speech and Language Therapy - frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about children’s speech and language therapy appointments.

Children's Speech and Language

Stammering advice for parents, carers and teachers

General advice for parents, teachers and carers of children who stammer.

Children's Speech and Language

Top tips for talking

Read our top tips for talking by our Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service.

Children's Speech and Language

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