Children’s Speech and Language Therapy

The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service aims to maximise the communication potential of children and young people aged 0-19 years with speech, language, and communication needs.

About the service

The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service aims to Maximise the communication potential of children and young people aged 0-19 years with speech, language and communication needs. 

The team provide assessment and support to families to ensure their child can maintain safe and effective eating, drinking and swallowing to ensure healthy growth and wellbeing.

There are 2 clinical teams within this service. 

  • The Community Paediatric Team work with children and young people presenting with communication disorders including speech sound difficulties, the understanding and use of spoken language, stammering, social communication and voice disorders. 
  • The Special Needs Team work across four main areas; pre-school children with additional and complex needs, Gateshead Special Schools, Hearing Impairment and also provide assessment and intervention for children with feeding/swallowing difficulties. 

Speech Language Therapists (SLT) also within the special needs team, work as part of Gateshead’s Child Development Team and Feeding Clinics. 

The Community Paediatric team carry out initial assessments are carried out within local clinics and Health Centres, and the Special Needs Team carry out initial in the patient home or as part of a multidisciplinary assessment within the Gateshead Child Development Team. 

At the end of your first assessment session the SLT will advise you of the recommended pathway of support for your child. Further appointments may be provided in a range of settings including clinics/health centres, patients homes, mainstream & special schools and early years settings. 

Families will receive a written report and strategies to support the child at home following assessments and periods of intervention. 

The Teams are made up of qualified SLTs and Assistants. Team SLT’s have an extensive range of knowledge, skills and experience, including specialist interests in areas such as:

  • Paediatric eating and drinking difficulties
  • Autism
  • Alternative and Augmentative Communication
  • Developmental Language Disorder
  • Speech disorders
  • Hearing Impairment
  • Early Years, Dysfluency
  • Selective Mutism
  • Voice disorders.

Patient Information

Useful Websites

The Gateshead Local Offer brings together information for children and young people aged 0-25 years with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.

 This includes information about services and support, and advice and guidance on education, health, social care and transport.”

Gateshead Local Offer SEND 0 to 25 Years – Gateshead Local Offer SEND 0 to 25 years (gateshead-localoffer.org)

How to contact the service

Telephone 0191 445 6667
Monday – Friday