Developing Speech, Language and Communication Skills in Education: What Works and Why

This practical guide equips teachers, educators, and speech and language therapists who work across the age phases with the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to fully meet the speech, language, and communication (SLC) needs of children and young people (CYP). As SLC challenges are increasing among pupils, this book links theory to practical aspects of pedagogy, guiding readers to consider how to support the CYP they work with in educational settings. It champions a collaborative approach to supporting conditions such as Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Autism, and others, and considers the reasonable adjustments that can be implemented to support all pupils (a ‘universal’ approach). Written by a multi-disciplinary team, it embraces sociological, educational, and medical perspectives, encouraging critical thinking and offering a range of case studies that illustrate key strategies and real-world applications, as well as signposting practical resources and sources of further support.

Hazel Richards is a specialist speech and language therapist who worked with children and young people with complex needs in mainstream, specialist, and alternative settings for over 20 years. Her experience of working with SENCos as a professional, school governor, and parent motivated her doctoral studies investigating SENCo identity and influences on practice.

Natacha Capener has over 16 years’ experience working within education, from early years through to secondary, in both mainstream and specialist settings. As a speech and language therapist she has worked collaboratively with teaching staff in schools to embed speech and language therapy practices and approaches within the academic curriculum.

Aaron Emmett is a speech and language therapist whose most recent clinical role was lead for secondary and further education. He has worked with children and young people as part of a secondary school team and as a youth worker. Aaron has engaged in research analysing the experiences of SENCos in accessing speech and language therapy services.