Choosing a private speech and language therapist for your child is an important decision, and the market can feel overwhelming, particularly in the North East where a growing number of independent therapists and agencies now operate. This guide helps you ask the right questions and recognise what quality looks like.
Check their registration
The most important check is whether the therapist is registered with the relevant professional bodies. In the UK, all qualified speech and language therapists must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), this is a legal requirement. They should also be a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
You can check HCPC registration on the HCPC register at hcpc-uk.org. Any qualified therapist will welcome this check. If a provider is reluctant to share their registration details, that is a significant red flag.
ASLTIP membership
The Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP) is the professional body for private SLTs. Membership involves agreeing to a code of ethics and standards of practice. A therapist who is a member of ASLTIP is committed to professional standards in independent practice.
Look for relevant specialist experience
Speech and Language Therapy is a broad field. A therapist who is excellent with adults who have had strokes may not be the right fit for a child with autism and communication differences. Ask specifically:
- Do you have experience working with children of my child’s age?
- Do you have experience with autism / DLD / selective mutism / [relevant condition]?
- What specialist training have you completed beyond your initial qualification?
- What proportion of your current caseload involves children with similar needs to my child?
An honest, experienced therapist will give you clear answers to these questions. They will also tell you honestly if they don’t think they’re the right fit for your child and point you elsewhere. This kind of honesty is a sign of quality.
Ask about their approach
There is no single correct approach to speech and language therapy, good therapists draw on multiple evidence-based approaches and adapt to the individual child. However, there are some approaches and attitudes that are worth probing:
- Do they use evidence-based interventions? (If they can’t name any, or mention approaches that aren’t evidence-based, be cautious.)
- Is their approach child-led and play-based for younger children? (Drilling and worksheets are rarely the most effective approach for young children.)
- Do they involve parents in therapy? (Parents should be active participants in good SLT, not passive observers.)
- Do they communicate with school? (Therapy that doesn’t connect with the school environment will have limited impact.)
Be cautious of therapists who promise rapid results or miraculous outcomes. Language development takes time. Good therapy sets realistic expectations and reviews progress honestly.
What are red flags?
Reluctance to share HCPC registration; unwillingness to communicate with school; charging for reports that should be included; inability to explain their clinical reasoning in plain language; an approach that seems to shame or pressure children.
Consider the practical logistics
Beyond the clinical quality of the therapist, practical factors matter for whether therapy is sustainable:
- Is the location accessible for your family? Can you realistically attend weekly without significant stress?
- Is the session time compatible with school commitments?
- What is the waiting time? (Some therapists have waiting lists of many months.)
- What is the cancellation policy? (Understand this clearly before you begin.)
- Do they offer parent coaching or home programme support between sessions?
- Are written reports and school liaison included in the session fee, or charged separately?
A therapy block that is theoretically excellent but practically unsustainable will not achieve its goals. Choose a provider whose logistics work for your family’s life.
Why Speech Stuff
At Speech Stuff, we believe parents should make an informed choice, which is why we offer a free 20-minute call before any commitment. This gives you the opportunity to ask us all of these questions, get a feel for our approach, and decide whether we’re the right fit for your child, without any pressure.
- RCSLT and HCPC registered, registration numbers available on request
- Highly Specialist SLT with extensive specialist experience in autism and communication differences
- Child-led, play-based, neuroaffirming approach
- Parent coaching and school liaison included as standard
- EHCP-ready reports written for every assessment
- Based at The Hive, Cramlington, accessible from across Northumberland and the North East
- No waiting list
If we’re not the right service for your child, we’ll tell you, and do our best to point you toward who is.