These pages provide information on services available to parents, carers and families living in Thurrock, who have concerns about their child's speech, language and communication development.
Talking Point provides parents and carers with information to help understand and support their child's speech and language development. There is a guide to the skills children develop between birth and 17 years and concerns to look out for. Talking Point also provides information on where to go for help, useful organisations, books, resources and DVDs.
If you are concerned that your child has a difficulty with any of the following:
There are people you can contact for advice and support. Depending on the age of your child, your first point of contact could be:
Speech Link and Language Link Speech Link is a multi-media package, designed by speech and language therapists, and implemented across Thurrock infant and primary schools. It provides teachers and teaching assistants with the ability to screen for developmental speech and language difficulties and provides strategies and resources to ensure appropriate support and intervention. Children who need referral for more specialist support are also identified.
When children start full-time school in Thurrock, the majority of schools will screen all children during their first term using the Infant Language Link programme. Any child aged 4 to 8 years can be assessed using Infant Language Link. Children who present with some articulation difficulties are also screened using the Speech Link programme.
From September 2012, some Thurrock schools will assess children aged 7 to 11 years using Junior Language Link, designed to assess pupils for more complex aspects of language and developmental language difficulties.
From 2013 the Secondary Language Link will become available for secondary schools to purchase.
Please see how to access PDF files.
Speech, Language and Communication NeedsAn information booklet for parents, carers and families living in Thurrock.
