How Speech & Language Link can help

Identifying and understanding barriers

Many children with speech and language difficulties go unnoticed. They may seem quiet, disengaged or lacking confidence, when the real challenge is an underlying communication need. The Speech & Language Link whole-class screening tools help schools uncover those hidden needs early.

Developed in collaboration with the University of Cambridge Psychometrics Centre, the assessments identify receptive language difficulties and highlight potential speech sound concerns, giving schools robust evidence on which to act.

Available for children and young people aged 3-15 years, the assessments are quick to administer and provide secure online reporting at pupil, class, school, trust and local authority level.

Strengthening the universal offer

A strong universal offer reduces barriers before pupils require additional support. Speech & Language Link supports this with teacher-friendly guidance that translates research into simple, effective classroom strategies. Bite-sized instructional coaching and resources from our new ‘Classroom Essentials’ tools help staff put these ideas into practice with confidence.

Our professional development offer for teachers, teaching assistants and SENCos strengthens understanding of speech, language and communication and helps staff apply evidence-informed approaches consistently across the school.

The targeted level

Therapist-designed interventions provide structured small-group support based on needs identified through screening and assessment. Activities focus on developing functional communication skills that help pupils participate more effectively in lessons, social interactions and wider school life.

“Experts on Hand”

All toolkits include access to our Help Desk and therapy team. Schools can obtain support with technical, administrative, implementation or therapy-related questions through a single point of contact. Our therapists act as your ‘experts on hand’, helping you interpret results, plan next steps and make effective use of your school’s targeted support.

Targeted plus

Some pupils require support beyond universal and targeted provision. For these learners, screening data, intervention records and progress reports provide a shared evidence base for discussions with ‘Experts at Hand’ teams: speech and language therapists, educational psychologists and specialist teachers.

Supporting collaboration with specialists has long been a feature of Speech & Language Link. By bringing everyone together around shared information, schools can make more informed decisions. This supports the SEND reforms’ emphasis on multi-agency collaboration and helping specialist expertise inform practice within mainstream settings.

Comparing need, monitoring and reviewing

Effective Inclusion Strategies require leaders to understand both need and impact. Speech & Language Link reporting tools allow schools, MATs and local authorities to analyse trends, compare outcomes and identify common communication needs across groups and settings.
This information can help leaders prioritise resources, monitor implementation and demonstrate how funded activities are addressing identified barriers to learning and participation, linking directly to Inclusion Strategy requirements.

A pathway to support

Together, the Speech & Language Link tools create a coherent pathway from identification to intervention and review. Whole-class screening supports early identification, communication audits highlight classroom barriers, staff training strengthens universal provision and structured interventions address identified needs. Ongoing support from the Help Desk and therapy team helps schools implement provision with confidence, while digital tracking and reporting tools support monitoring at pupil, school and governance levels.

Partnerships

Speech & Language Link can also help strengthen partnerships with families and wider services. The Parent Portal provides accessible guidance and home-practice activities, helping parents reinforce communication skills beyond the classroom. Data sharing features can also support collaborative conversations with Experts at Hand teams and other professionals involved in a child’s support.