tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15269878966111526072026-10-23T10:27:00.945+01:00Small Talk Speech and Language Therapy and Smart Talkers pre-school Communication groups celebrate children's speech, language and communicationLibby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.comBlogger499125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-14635773456851160302026-10-09T18:57:46.801+01:002026-10-09T18:57:46.801+01:00

I am becoming increasingly frustrated and, frankly, heartbroken by the number of families on my caseload who have fought so hard to secure an EHCP, with excellent, detailed provision in Section F, only to discover that nobody is actually delivering it. And there is a huge problem that we are not talking about enough. As Speech and Language Therapists, we cannot do our jobs effectively in

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-80867440095881307662025-11-23T10:33:00.001+00:002025-11-23T10:33:05.678+00:00

I was reading an email from a parent today who mentioned that the key feature of her child's expressive language is questions. It reminded me of the first time I came across this. Around 1988, I was working in a Primary School 4 mornings a week supporting a child who had left a language unit but still required intensive support. While in the classroom, I observed another child, James aged 8. He

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-80634281321389772892025-11-08T12:48:00.004+00:002025-11-08T12:48:37.044+00:00

I popped into a coffee shop for brunch today. Two carers came in with their young disabled clients — both lovely young people, probably in their late teens. They sat nearby, one ordered drinks with the staff, and then… nothing. For the next half hour, not a single word was exchanged — not between the carers, not between the young people, not between the carers and their clients. The young

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-78434310838881290972025-11-05T10:12:00.001+00:002025-11-05T10:12:29.800+00:00

I'm writing a report about a 4 year old autistic boy I saw a couple of weeks ago. We had discussed that he was being completely misunderstood by his mainstream school but reading the reports and the behavior logs is making me feel really angry. Harry is a four-year-old boy who started school in September. He is autistic, with high sensory sensitivities. School is too noisy. Too crowded. Too

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-6707667043234764062025-10-28T10:37:00.005+00:002025-10-28T10:48:28.412+00:00

In the run-up to World Kindness Day (13 November), and in my role as a speech–language therapist working with children with SEND and their families, I want to draw attention to a deeply troubling phenomenon: the institutional and systemic culture of parental blame. The research of Luke Clements (Cerebra Professor of Law and Social Justice, University of Leeds) and colleagues highlights that many

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-19964061828257276042025-10-24T09:15:00.001+01:002025-10-24T09:17:14.026+01:00

There’s a growing narrative that children missing school are simply refusing to attend — and their parents need to “get a grip.” But that story ignores thousands of children whose non-attendance is rooted in trauma, anxiety, sensory overload, or unmet SEND needs. These children are not skipping school. They are avoiding pain. When a Child’s Body Says “No More” For many neurodivergent children

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-47998902093150257092025-10-03T14:04:00.000+01:002025-10-03T14:04:00.891+01:00

For many children, friendships are built on the playground, in classrooms, or through after-school clubs. But for autistic children, these environments can be overwhelming. Social interactions face-to-face often involve **fast-changing conversations, background noise, unwritten social rules, and non-verbal cues that are hard to interpret in the moment. This can make forming and maintaining

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-42559011735286402712025-10-03T13:43:00.004+01:002025-10-03T13:43:53.088+01:00

When a child who previously spoke at home suddenly stops talking, even though they can still communicate in brief written messages, it often signals high levels of stress, anxiety, or burnout. A sudden or gradual loss of speech at home suggests something has shifted. Children don’t choose silence lightly; it usually reflects that speaking has become too effortful or overwhelming. Speaking

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-34902716014685032992025-09-30T11:21:00.000+01:002025-09-30T11:21:22.707+01:00

Parents are often encouraged to “work with the school” or to “trust the process” when challenges arise in education. While collaboration is important, there are times when following the standard route does not meet a child’s individual needs. Professionals naturally rely on established pathways and familiar strategies. These approaches are designed to support the majority of children, and in

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-57550862170474965232025-09-26T13:26:00.002+01:002025-09-26T13:26:09.839+01:00

When most people think of dyslexia, they think of difficulties with reading, spelling, and written expression. But underneath these challenges often lies a deeper issue: how a child understands and uses spoken language. That’s why it is vital for professionals carrying out dyslexia assessments to have a solid grounding in spoken language development, particularly in recognising *Developmental

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-41353456092458502372025-09-26T11:10:00.004+01:002025-09-26T11:10:44.117+01:00

Why Connection Matters More Than Compliance for Neurodivergent Children in School For many neurodivergent children, school can bring both opportunities and challenges. Too often, classrooms focus on compliance—sitting still, following instructions, fitting into a narrow mould—rather than connection. Yet, connection is what truly helps children feel safe, learn, and thrive. Compliance: The

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-47400229486558493862025-09-26T11:07:00.000+01:002025-09-26T11:07:43.326+01:00

Today something extraordinary happened in school. I was visiting one of my clients, a 7-year-old boy who is “minimally speaking.” He uses an iPad with TD Snap to support his communication. Usually, our sessions focus on exploring language, giving him opportunities to express himself, and helping school staff see just how much he can understand and share. As I unpacked my bag, he reached in

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-724639752527653252025-09-25T08:39:00.000+01:002025-09-25T08:39:32.663+01:00

For many children, starting secondary school is a mixture of excitement and nerves. But for teenagers with selective mutism (SM), the transition to Year 7 can feel overwhelming – even terrifying. Families often describe this first year of secondary school as the hardest part of the journey. Why is that? The Leap from Primary to Secondary In primary school, children usually have the safety

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-63014205756630957322025-09-16T16:00:00.000+01:002025-09-16T16:00:11.082+01:00

The government’s recent proposals to scale back Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services — including reducing access to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) — pose serious risks. What might appear as cost‐cuts now will likely lead to greater losses in opportunities, wellbeing, and public finances in the long run. Evidence & key data Here are some of the latest statistics

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-39149058663972918902025-09-11T08:47:00.001+01:002025-09-11T08:47:18.690+01:00

Communication Is So Much More Than Talking: This week in a group session, something happened that really struck me. One of the children I support had recently been in hospital. He still had an NG tube in place, and when it was his turn to share, he spoke about how awful it had been — the endless injections, the procedures, the sheer exhaustion of it all. As he spoke, another boy in the group

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-79761545204829199062025-09-09T09:19:00.004+01:002025-09-09T09:19:55.225+01:00

As a speech and language therapist, I spend much of my time thinking about what happens when communication is hard work. I spend hours analysing why words don’t come, why sentences don’t form, why interactions stall. But every now and then, I’m reminded of just how miraculous – and frankly astonishing – language development is when it all goes to plan. This week my 23-month-old granddaughter

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-55233996747304439082025-09-03T08:30:00.000+01:002025-09-03T08:30:25.135+01:00

'Oh don't worry he's fine!' Just wait and see!' Parents often have an instinct when something isn't quite right but are fobbed off by well meaning family or friends. Let's have a look at when should you seek help? We strongly recommend that you seek help from a speech-language therapist if your child: By 12 months • doesn’t babble with changes in tone – e.g. dadadadadadadadada • doesn’t use

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-25694342819522580222025-09-03T08:15:00.000+01:002025-09-03T08:15:37.376+01:00

When people think about communication, the first thing that usually comes to mind is *talking*. We place so much importance on spoken words that it can feel as though communication hasn’t really happened unless something has been said out loud. But that’s not true. Communication is so much more than words. I’ve been reminded of this very personally in recent weeks. My father has had a stroke. He

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-74334213748953215842025-07-08T13:04:00.014+01:002025-09-03T08:29:05.234+01:00

Ive just had a very familiar conversation with a parent about their potentially autistic child. He lies about small things like what he has at home but also big things such as his father hitting him. Safe-guarding concerns are always flagged. But why does this happen? Understanding the Behaviour Autistic children can display complex stress responses when overwhelmed, distressed, confused, or

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-32206991410732417002021-03-12T09:04:00.001+00:002021-03-12T09:04:17.524+00:00

Guest blog post Listening to Harry Thompson on his Facebook live today asking for contributions to the essence of PDA has inspired me to offer my personal musings on what PDA is. It’s definitely not pathological demand avoidance. No demands are avoided when the world is on its axis but the problem is that the world has a tendency to keep tipping off! If anything, PDA would be better explained

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-33146877634587239312020-11-27T09:08:00.003+00:002020-12-03T08:33:31.150+00:00

I wrote this blog a couple of years ago https://www.smarttalkersblog.com/2019/02/doesnt-listen-is-rude-homophobic-racist.html In many ways this could be Charlie about whom I’m talking. It wasn’t, I hadn’t met him, but I meet hundreds of Charlies a year, and I have done since 1986. Charlie is autistic and a part of him being autistic is that our neurotypical world does not suit him. He appears

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-13334454899500231612020-07-24T12:49:00.000+01:002020-07-24T12:49:31.842+01:00

I absolutely love my job, the autistic children I get the privilege to meet and get to know are incredible. I’ve said it before but it needs saying regularly; they are brave, resilient, and beautifully natured. This makes it all the more frustrating, overwhelming and upsetting when it comes to doing the hardest part of my job….. Fighting for their rights, fighting for what they need and more

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-36508584508026871312020-07-17T14:05:00.000+01:002020-07-17T14:05:58.829+01:00

Hello, I am Tara and I will be working with Small Talk speech and language therapy as a speech and language therapist based in Rugeley. I am excited to share my journey as a speech and language therapist with Small Talk as their commitment to “helping children achieve their true potential” is very important to me. I will mostly be working across Staffordshire and the surrounding areas,

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-65709109348593853472020-07-10T08:54:00.000+01:002020-07-10T08:54:18.937+01:00

Some years back I attended some training on using Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP)  in supporting children who have experienced developmental trauma, during which I was introduced to the concept of PACE. The PACE approach focuses on P- playfulness, A- acceptance, C- curiosity and E- empathy. (I would recommend the Dan Hughes link below for more information regarding PACE). Two

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1526987896611152607.post-15736026696771614012020-06-26T13:52:00.005+01:002020-06-26T13:52:55.077+01:00

I’ve just seen a lovely post about a bride surprised on her wedding day by 2 students with down's syndrome bringing the rings down the aisle https://www.facebook.com/theapparentlypage/videos/vb.102972927835054/2328978547411853/?type=2&theater It brought back memories of a wedding I went to with my then husband, M.  I was working as speech and language therapist in a

Libby Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18238394889716913334noreply@blogger.com0