About me
I graduated from the College of St Mark and St John (Plymouth) in 2004 with a BA (Hons) in Human Communication Studies. In the early part of my career, I worked for Portsmouth and Hertfordshire NHS Trusts in a range of settings including mainstream and special schools, community clinics and children’s centres.
In addition to more than 15 years of working in clinics, I provide bespoke consultancy and training services to mainstream and special schools in Hampshire.
I am always looking for new and better ways to work with the children on my caseload, and my formal training includes:
- Lidcombe programme of early stuttering intervention
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- Derbyshire Language Programme
- Makaton signing
- Treatment and management of cleft lip and palate
- Voice Craft
- Attention Autism Programme
- Use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Parent – Child Interaction therapy (PCI)
- Diagnosis and treatment of developmental verbal dyspraxia
- Management of children with developmental language disorder
I am a Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP) and as required by law I am on the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register.
About Learn to Talk
Whilst working for the NHS, I became frustrated that I wasn’t able to do more to help the families on my caseloads, so I set up Learn to Talk in 2009.
From the outset I’ve aimed to provide children with the best speech and language therapy, and parents with knowledge, understanding and reassurance.
My philosophy has always been to run my business in the way that would make me delighted if I was a client of it.
As a parent I understand the pressures of a busy family life so I try and make things as simple as possible for you.
I chose my clinic in Whiteley because it is easily accessible with parking and a waiting room.
I run an online booking system for appointments, offer the ability to pay by card so you don’t need to remember to bring cash, and invoice electronically so there are no pieces of paper to lose!
My clients appreciate being able to communicate with me by email and phone between appointments. I aim to be as responsive and available as possible. There’s nothing worse than having a concern and not being able to speak to someone about it!
I’ve started a blog because I realised there is so much information and opinion on the internet and in forums that it can be difficult for parents to understand what is relevant and factual – so I want to signpost parents to information I think will be helpful.