NHS Ayrshire & Arran Children's Speech and Language Therapy

12/01/2026

Our teams work across South, East and North Ayrshire. We use a tiered service model to make sure every child and young person gets the right support at the right time:

✅ Universal – For all children, families, and professionals. We share resources, training, and tips through schools, nurseries, and social media to help everyone support speech and language development.

🎯 Targeted – For children who need a little extra help. This includes focused interventions in schools, nurseries, and community settings, plus training for staff to meet specific needs.

👩‍⚕️ Specialist – For children with significant speech, language, or communication needs. Our specialists work one-to-one or in small groups to provide tailored therapy and support.

💬 Every child deserves the chance to communicate confidently. Together, we can make it happen! 🙌

👉 Follow us for tips, resources, and updates.

08/01/2026

Every way your child communicates matters!
Whether it’s a 👏 clap, a 🖐wave, a 😍 smile, a 🖼 picture, or 🗣 words - Responding shows them their voice is valued and will give them the confidence to communicate more.

Top tips
✅ Set some special time aside to play or talk with your child. This helps build the relationship between you and your child.

❌ Don’t interrupt – stop, look and listen. It’s important not to rush in and take over when your child is speaking. Give them a chance to communicate first. Try counting to 10 – if they have not attempted the word by then, say it for them so that they can hear what it sounds like, and then move on.

05/01/2026

✨Why Daily Routines Are Great for Building Communication Skills✨

Everyday activities like mealtimes to bedtimes are great times of the day for your child to learn new words and practice communication.

The best part? These routines happen every day, so you don’t need extra time or special activities. Try simple strategies like:
✅ Naming objects
✅ Describing actions
✅ Encouraging your child to respond

For videos on practical strategies visit: https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/help-for-families/resource-library-for-families/making-the-most-of-daily-routines/

03/01/2026

Back to School Time – who’s ready 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

Here are a few Makaton signs to try with your wee one.

👉 Teacher
👉 Help
👉 Book
👉 School
👉 Pencil

What is Makaton, I hear some of you ask?
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate.

🤩 Did you know our SLT teams provide training to parents and practitioners?
Your local SLT team or speech and language therapist can provide you with further information or specific signs you may need. Please contact our helpline or drop in to know more.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🥳

Here's our top 5 New Year Tips for you and your wee ones:

1. Get face to face with your child – this helps them see your expressions, hear the tone in your voice and connect with you in that moment.

2. Follow your wee ones lead, observe, wait and listen to see what your child is interested in.

3. Ask less questions and make more comments – show interest in what they enjoy playing. Use single words or short phrases to match what your child is looking at or playing with.

4. Bit by bit – copy what your child is doing, using a similar toy, add a new idea to the play, then wait. This will spark engagement and imagination to the play.

5. Reduce your child’s screen time and reduce your own screen time when around your child.

For more information on ways to communicate through play visit our website on https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/allied-health-professionals-ahps/speech-and-language-therapy/speech-and-language-therapy-for-children-and-young-people/attention-and-listening/

31/12/2025

🎶 “Auld Lang Syne” & New Year Wishes 🎉

As we sing about “old long since” and cherish the memories of the past year, let’s look forward to new beginnings together!

✨ Happy New Year to all our amazing parents and families!
May 2026 bring joy, laughter, and plenty of special moments with your wee ones. 💕

Fun Fact: Did you know Auld Lang Syne was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788? It’s all about remembering old friendships and celebrating the bonds that last through time. 🫶

🤩 Kid-Friendly Idea: Create a “Memory Jar” with your children! Write down your favourite moments from 2025 on little slips of paper, pop them in the jar, and read them together on next New Year’s Eve. 🥰

24/12/2025

19/12/2025

⭐The Scottish Book Trust have shared a list of Christmas stories for your children to enjoy.⭐
https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-lists/10-festive-books-for-christmas

15/12/2025

⭐Here are some early language tips to try when playing with your child. ⭐

12/12/2025

⭐There are lots of opportunities for learning language outdoors in Winter. Here are some ideas from Tiny Happy People. ⭐
https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zwbmg2p

11/12/2025

🎄🎄It’s 2 weeks to Christmas!🎄🎄

In May this year, we raised awareness of the impact of screens during our Screens Awareness Week. As we get closer to Christmas, it’s important to think about the presents we buy for our wee ones. There are lots of lovely toys out there that are totally screen-free, we shared some of these earlier this week!

We’ve pulled together some of the benefits of screen-free toys below.