LYCALI ASSESSMENT PATHWAY

Child Speech & Language Therapy Assessment

This page explains each stage of your child's speech and language therapy assessment journey with Lycali, from initial enquiry and registration through to questionnaires, assessment, report, recommendations and next steps.

1

Initial Enquiry & Registration

Once you contact Lycali, our team will review your enquiry and discuss the most appropriate speech and language therapy assessment pathway for your child.

If you decide to proceed, you will be sent a registration form to complete. This allows us to gather key information about your child and register them securely on our clinical management system.

The registration form includes parent/carer contact details, GP information, educational information, relevant background information and consent preferences.

2

Invoice, Terms & Conditions and Consent

Once registered, we will issue your assessment invoice together with our terms and conditions and consent documentation.

These documents must be reviewed and signed before your child's assessment can proceed.

Please ensure all information is accurate and notify us if any details need updating before your child's appointment.
3

Payment Received

Once payment has been received and all required documentation has been completed, your child's assessment pathway will formally begin.

You will then receive access to the required pre-assessment questionnaires and any additional documents needed for the assessment.

4

Documents to Complete

Please complete the forms below as soon as possible. These help us gather information about your child's development, communication skills, health, education, family background and day-to-day functioning.

Child Developmental History Questionnaire

This questionnaire provides important information about your child's development, communication skills, health, education, family background and day-to-day functioning.

Speech, Language & Communication Questionnaire

This questionnaire helps us understand your child's communication strengths and areas of difficulty across understanding, expressive language, speech sound development, social communication and functional communication skills.

Completing questionnaires as early as possible helps the clinician review information before the appointment and may reduce delays in the assessment process.
5

Educational Setting Information

Where appropriate, we may request information from your child's nursery, school, college or educational setting.

This may include information from a teacher, SENCo, key worker, teaching assistant, learning support lead or another member of staff who knows your child well.

Educational setting information can help us understand how your child's communication presents across different environments and whether difficulties are impacting learning, friendships or classroom participation.

Useful information may include teacher observations, SENCo input, previous reports, EHCP documentation, support plans, intervention records or examples of classroom communication.
6

Speech & Language Therapy Assessment Appointment

During the assessment appointment, the clinician will explore your child's communication profile, strengths, needs and functional communication skills.

Depending on your child's age and presenting difficulties, the assessment may include:

  • Parent/carer interview and discussion
  • Observation of communication skills
  • Standardised speech and language assessments where appropriate
  • Informal assessment activities
  • Speech sound assessment
  • Understanding of language assessment
  • Expressive language assessment
  • Vocabulary and word finding assessment
  • Narrative and storytelling assessment
  • Social communication assessment
  • Functional communication observations
  • Literacy-related language skills where relevant
Who should attend?

The child or young person should attend the assessment appointment. Parents or carers are usually asked to attend all or part of the appointment to provide additional background information and support where appropriate.

The Lycali administration team will contact you to arrange a suitable appointment time.

7

Report, Feedback and Recommendations

Following completion of the assessment, the clinician will analyse all information gathered and produce a comprehensive report.

The report may include:

  • Assessment findings
  • Communication strengths and needs
  • Speech, language and communication profile
  • Clinical interpretation of assessment results
  • Recommendations for home, school and wider environments
  • Therapy recommendations where appropriate
  • Suggested targets where appropriate
  • Suggested next steps

Feedback will be provided and you will have an opportunity to discuss the findings and recommendations with the clinician.

8

Therapy and Next Steps

Following assessment, recommendations may include speech and language therapy, school-based strategies, environmental adaptations, communication supports, parent coaching, review appointments or onward referrals where appropriate.

Therapy recommendations may include:

  • Direct therapy with the child or young person
  • Parent/carer advice and coaching
  • School consultation and staff guidance
  • Home and school programmes
  • Social communication support
  • Speech sound therapy
  • Language intervention
  • Review or follow-up appointments
Need Support?

If you are unsure which forms to complete, require assistance accessing documentation or would like to discuss your child's communication needs before the assessment, please contact the Lycali team.

📧 info@lycali.co.uk
🌐 www.lycali.co.uk