SaLT - Children and young people - Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

Important Update – Social Communication Assessments From 1 August 2026, the Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) Service will no longer assess children where the main concern is social communication. Children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) will continue to be seen, including those with co-occurring social communication difficulties.

Our aim is simple – to help each child reach their communication potential and feel confident using their voice in everyday life.

We work with children and young people who need support with:

Speech sounds
Understanding language
Using words and sentences
Stammering
Feeding, eating and swallowing

We also work closely with families, carers and the professionals who support your child every day.

How we work

Referrals

Early Years/ preschool (0-4 years)

From 21 September 2026, Talking Walk-Ins will replace the existing pre-school Speech and Language Therapy referral route for children with communication and language needs aged 0–4 years in Bolton.

Talking Walk-Ins are informal drop-in sessions where families can discuss concerns about their child’s speech, language and communication development with Speech and Language Therapists and Family Hub Practitioners. Advice, strategies and, where needed, access to specialist support will be provided.

Please continue to use the existing referral routes for children whereby the concerns relate to feeding and swallowing (dysphagia) needs.

School aged (4+years)

School aged children can be referred to Speech and Language Therapy by health or education professionals using the referral form below.

Referrals must include all relevant information, and parent/carer consent must be obtained before submission.

Referral Forms

Childrens Referral Form – Please download this form to your device and then complete the saved version. This form will not work if opened in the web browser.

Assessments

If we think your child would benefit from our support, we will arrange an assessment.
This may include spending time with your child, observing them, and talking to you about what you have noticed.

This helps us understand your child's strengths and where support is needed.

Support and intervention

Depending on your child's needs, we may offer:

Practical advice and strategies
Direct therapy sessions
Programmes to be used at home or school
Coaching for parents/ carers and school staff
Joint working with other professionals

We work together to help your child communicate as confidently and effectively as possible.

Bilingual assessments

If your child uses more than one language, we will assess them in all the languages they hear or use. Research shows that:

Bilingual children should not be compared to monolingual children
Speech and language therapy should support both/all languages
Professional interpreters and bilingual support workers are essential

This is part of national guidance from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and HCPC professional standards.

Speech and language therapy toolkit

If you need ideas while you are waiting for therapy or extra ways to help your child at home, please explore our online Speech and Language Therapy Toolkit.

If you need personalised advice, please contact the team on 01204 462670 or email paedcommtherapyreferrals@boltonft.nhs.uk.