Your Questions, Answered

  • Many parents contact a speech and language therapist because something about their child’s communication doesn’t feel quite right.

    You might notice that your child is difficult for others to understand, is using fewer words or shorter sentences than children of the same age, or seems to struggle to follow instructions. Some children also become frustrated when they are not understood.

    Every child develops at their own pace, so these signs do not always mean there is a problem. If you are unsure, you are very welcome to get in touch. I am happy to offer some initial advice to help you decide whether an assessment would be helpful.

  • An assessment is designed to give a clear picture of your child’s communication skills in a relaxed and supportive way.

    I usually spend time playing and interacting with your child while observing how they understand language, use words and sentences, and produce speech sounds. I may also use some structured activities or simple assessments depending on your child’s age.

    After the session, I provide a written report explaining what I observed, whether your child’s skills are developing as expected for their age, and whether any support or therapy would be helpful.

  • I work with children across the early and primary years, supporting a range of speech and language difficulties.

    Many of the children I see are preschool or primary school age and may be experiencing challenges such as speech sound difficulties, delayed language development, or problems being understood by others.

    If you are unsure whether your child’s age or needs are suitable, please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to advise.

  • This varies depending on the nature of the difficulty and the individual child.

    Some children benefit from a short block of sessions to help them develop specific skills. Others may need support over a longer period of time, especially if their communication needs are more complex.

    During the assessment I will discuss my recommendations and explain what type of support is likely to be most helpful for your child.

  • No referral is needed. Parents can contact me directly to discuss their concerns or arrange an assessment.

    Many families choose to seek advice privately if they would like support sooner or would like a more detailed understanding of their child’s communication.

  • Many families access speech and language therapy through the NHS, and this can be a valuable service. However, waiting lists can sometimes be long and the level of support available may vary depending on local resources.

    Private therapy allows families to access support more quickly and often provides more flexibility in the type and frequency of support offered.

    Private assessments typically include a detailed report and personalised recommendations. Therapy sessions can also be tailored closely to your child’s needs, with regular communication with parents and settings.

    Some families choose private therapy to access support sooner, while others use it alongside NHS services.

  • No. An assessment does not commit you to ongoing therapy.

    The purpose of an assessment is to understand your child’s communication skills and provide clear information about how their speech and language are developing. After the session, you will receive a written report explaining what was observed and whether any support is recommended.

    In some cases, therapy may be helpful to support your child’s progress. In other situations, reassurance and some practical strategies for home or school may be all that is needed.

    If therapy is recommended, we can discuss the options and decide together what would be most helpful for your child. There is no obligation to continue beyond the assessment, and many parents choose to start with an assessment simply to gain a clearer understanding of their child’s needs.

  • Honeypot Practice works with families across Hertfordshire and North London.

    This includes Borehamwood, Radlett, St Albans, Watford, Bushey, Potters Bar, Barnet and surrounding areas.

    Sessions typically take place in nurseries or schools.

    Online therapy is also available, so it may be possible to work with families outside of Hertfordshire and North London. In most cases, a face to face assessment is preferable as it allows a more detailed understanding of a child’s communication skills. However, this can often be arranged as a one off assessment, with ongoing therapy delivered online if appropriate. Additional travel fees may apply depending on location.

    If you are unsure whether your area is covered, please feel free to get in touch to discuss your situation.

  • Children begin developing speech and language at different rates, so some variation is completely typical. Many children start using their first words around their first birthday and gradually begin combining words into short phrases during their toddler years.

    However, if your child is not yet using words, is using very few words for their age, or seems to struggle to understand what is being said to them, it can sometimes be helpful to seek advice.

    An early assessment can provide reassurance if development is progressing as expected, or identify whether some support might help your child build their communication skills. If you are unsure, you are very welcome to get in touch for some initial advice.

  • Many young children make speech sound errors as they learn to speak, and this is a normal part of development. Over time, their speech usually becomes clearer as they learn how to produce different sounds.

    If unfamiliar adults find it difficult to understand your child, or if your child becomes frustrated when trying to speak, it can sometimes indicate that they may benefit from support with their speech sounds.

    A speech and language therapist can assess how your child is producing sounds and determine whether their speech development is typical for their age or whether targeted therapy may help improve clarity.

  • Parents often notice small differences in their child’s communication before anyone else does. Some signs that it may be helpful to seek advice include:

    • your child is using fewer words or shorter sentences than children of a similar age
    • other people find your child difficult to understand
    • your child struggles to follow instructions
    • your child becomes frustrated when trying to communicate

    These signs do not always mean that a child needs therapy, but they can indicate that an assessment may be helpful to understand their communication profile.

  • Speech and language therapy can support children with a wide range of communication difficulties, including speech sound difficulties, delayed language development, and challenges with understanding language.

    Therapy focuses on helping children develop the skills they need to communicate effectively. This may include targeted activities, play-based learning, and strategies that parents and teachers can use in everyday situations.

    Many children make good progress when support is introduced early and when families are involved in practising strategies at home.

  • Speech and language are closely related but they refer to different aspects of communication.

    Speech refers to how sounds are produced and how clearly a child speaks. For example, some children may leave off sounds at the ends of words or substitute one sound for another.

    Language refers to understanding and using words and sentences to communicate meaning. This includes following instructions, understanding questions, and expressing ideas using words and sentences.

    A child may have difficulties with speech, language, or sometimes both. An assessment helps identify which areas may need support.

  • Some speech sound errors do resolve naturally as children grow and develop. For example, younger children often simplify words while they are learning to speak, and these patterns can gradually disappear with age.

    However, some difficulties persist without support, particularly if a child has significant speech sound errors or challenges with understanding or using language.

    A speech and language assessment can help determine whether your child’s communication skills are developing typically or whether targeted support would help them make progress.

  • Some children find it harder to learn the speech sounds needed to say words clearly. This is often called a speech sound difficulty.

    You might notice that your child is difficult for other people to understand, leaves sounds off the ends of words, or replaces one sound with another. For example, saying “ca” instead of “cat”, or “tat” instead of “cat”.

    Young children often make some of these errors while they are learning to speak, and many of them are a typical part of development. However, if your child is much harder to understand than other children of the same age, or if their speech does not seem to be becoming clearer over time, it can be helpful to seek advice.

    A speech and language assessment can help determine whether your child’s speech development is within the expected range for their age and whether any support may be beneficial.