Bolton Start Well

In line with the launch of the Integrated Early Years Communication and Language Pathway here is some further guidance to help support you to understand what information is needed prior to requesting support from the Early Years Communication and Language Development Service or Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Service. 

In the first instance we would encourage practitioners to contact EYCLDS by phone or email to discuss the need for additional support.  If support is needed, in addition to a relevant holistic assessment for the young person, information about strengths and needs in the following areas should be provided in the Speech, Language and Communication section:

• Attention and Listening
• Play and social skills
• Understanding
• Speech sounds and talking
• Feeding/swallowing issues
• Information about what steps have been made to address these concerns/issues to date” e.g. WellComm scores and activities shared with family, family attended Steps to Talking group within Start Well Service etc.
• NB re Bilingual referrals - please state ALL other languages spoken in the home regardless of need for interpreters. We need this information to assess the child in their 1st language as well as in their second language. This means that we will need to book an appropriate interpreter to help the Speech and Language Therapist complete this assessment process.  This will also allow the service to send out any information before the initial contact in the appropriate language, or indeed to make sure that the appropriate Bilingual SLT Assistant makes the phone call to the family to give appointments to ensure the best possible take up of the service.
• Please specify if a child is already known to an independent or private Speech and Language Therapist and include their details in the other professionals involved section.  This is so liaison between SLTs can take place with parental permission.

Other recent specialist assessments should also be attached to the Early Help Assessment such as:

1. Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3);
2. Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social and Emotional (ASQ:SE);
3. WellComm score sheet;
4. Educational Psychology report; and/or
5. Audiology reports.
6. Steps to Talking group report

Please send completed Early Help forms to: Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy, Breightmet Health Centre, Breightmet Fold Lane, Bolton, BL2 6NT

Early Years Communication & Language Development Service

Tel: 01204 338 349

Email: StartWell@bolton.gov.uk