Go Talking Ways

07/10/2025

This might be uncomfortable to read, but it needs to be said.

I can’t stop thinking about panorama documentary last night and it just reflects the reality for so many SEND families. You see, the education system we send our children into every day wasn’t designed for them. It was designed in the Industrial Age to produce compliant workers, not creative thinkers.

It teaches obedience, not curiosity. Memorisation, not imagination.
It rewards children who can sit still, not those whose brains need movement to learn.

And yet, so many of the children I see through speech and language therapy, autistic learners, Gestalt Language Processors, children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), are expected to adapt to a system that simply hasn’t evolved.

As a speech and language therapist in Birmingham, I see first-hand how these children process and communicate differently. They need a system that understands sensory regulation, communication differences and connection, not one that punishes them for being themselves.

When they can’t meet unrealistic expectations, they’re told they’re failing.
But they’re not failing… the system is.

We’re in a SEND crisis in the UK. Families are fighting for SEND support, EHCPs, and basic provision that should already exist. Children are being left behind because the curriculum doesn’t reflect who they are or how they learn.

Our learners need nurture. They need creativity. They need movement, play, and connection. They need inclusive classrooms, neurodiversity-affirming practice, and professionals who see communication through a holistic, sensory lens.

So yes, the system is broken.
But our children aren’t.
And it’s time we stopped trying to fix them, and started fixing the system.

💬 Parents and educators, what would school look like if it truly supported every child’s communication, learning and wellbeing?


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Steph | Go Talking Ways

06/10/2025

💛 SEND Community Day - Thursday 9th October 💛

I’m so excited to be joining for a SEND Community Day in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham… a relaxed and welcoming event designed for families navigating special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

📍 Location: Sutton Town Hall, Birmingham]
🕤 Morning session: 9:30am - 11am
🕧 Afternoon session: 12:30pm - 2:30pm

This day is for you if you’re:
✨ Looking for speech and language therapy in Birmingham
✨ Wanting to connect with autism support services or SEND support Birmingham
✨ Searching for advice about EHCPs, communication, or sensory needs
✨ Or simply curious about what’s available locally for your child

There will be a range of local service providers, from speech therapists and occupational therapists to parent support networks, all under one roof. You’ll be able to ask questions, gather practical information, and make connections that can really help your family.

☕️ Plus: coffee, cake, and real conversations with people who get it.

🎟 I’ll pop the link in my stories so you can grab your free ticket for either the morning or afternoon session.

You don’t know what you don’t know, and this local SEND event in Birmingham is your chance to discover new options, support, and people who can help you on your journey.

💛 Come say hi, meet other parents, and let’s build a stronger, more connected SEND community together.

Steph | Go Talking Ways

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05/10/2025

A parent asked me a question in clinic this week that stopped me in my tracks:

“If Gestalt Language Processing is a natural way some children develop language… why don’t more speech and language therapists know about it?”

And honestly… it’s such a fair question.

Even though there’s growing research, autistic & gestalt language processors voices, and clinical experience supporting Gestalt Language Processing (GLP), it still isn’t part of most speech and language therapy training in the UK. Many therapists only learn about it after qualifying.

So why the gap?
🔹Pressure within NHS and education services to follow traditional models
🔹An over-reliance on “word-by-word” or “analytic” approaches
🔹The fear of getting it wrong
🔹The idea that only randomised controlled trials count as “evidence”

But here’s what matters most ⬇️
If a child uses echolalia or scripts, that’s not copying.
That’s communication.
They’re showing you how they process and express language.

Supporting Gestalt Language Processors isn’t fringe therapy, it’s evidence-based, neurodiversity-affirming practice. It means following the child’s lead, modelling natural language, and recognising that connection and regulation come before communication.

Parents often ask me, “Is this approach valid?”
Yes.
When you see your child communicating through scripts, and those scripts have meaning… that’s real data. That’s your evidence.

So trust what you see. Trust what resonates.
If your child communicates in gestalts, they deserve to be supported as a Gestalt Language Processor. Full stop.

Steph Collins | Go Talking Ways

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03/10/2025

I will never stop shouting about this. Ever.

🔹Connection.
🔹Regulation.
🔹Engagement.

These are the foundations of my therapy approach, and I’ll never go back to compliance-based, adult-led models again. Here’s why ⬇️

Children with communication differences don’t always have the automatic tool many of us take for granted: verbal speech. That makes it harder to advocate for their wants and needs in a world that isn’t built for them.

So what comes first? Feeling safe. Feeling seen. Feeling understood.

🔹 Connection: building trust, tuning in, showing a child that someone truly “gets them.” Connection is relational safety, not just rapport.
🔹 Regulation: this isn’t just bouncing on a gym ball. Regulation can be supported by co-regulation strategies (a calm adult presence, empathy, curiosity), by looking at “behaviour” through a sensory lens, and by offering supports like visuals, Makaton or AAC to reduce distress.
🔹 Engagement: when a child feels safe and regulated, they can offer their curiosity. They can want to explore, play, and interact. That’s when communication lights up… because it’s rooted in joy, not pressure.

This isn’t just a nice idea. It’s neuroscience. It’s sensory integration. It’s polyvagal theory in action. It’s giving a child the conditions to thrive.

And once those foundations are in place → language development can happen in a way that’s authentic, meaningful, and lasting.

So yes, I’m addicted to this approach. And no, I’ll never change it. Because every child deserves to feel connected, regulated, engaged… before we ever ask them to “communicate.”

💬 Parents… does this resonate? Can you see how your child shows you when they’re connected and regulated?

Steph | Go Talking Ways

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30/09/2025

Echolalia gets dismissed far too often as “just copying.” But here’s the truth: it’s communication.

Echolalia is when a child repeats words, phrases, or scripts they’ve heard before, maybe from you, a favourite show, a book, or a song. Sometimes it’s immediate (“Want a biscuit?” → “Want a biscuit”), and sometimes it’s delayed (a line from Peppa Pig that pops up days later).

And it’s never random.

For many children, echolalia carries an emotional memory. They’re not just recalling the words, they’re recalling how it felt when they first heard them. A script becomes a shorthand for that feeling or situation.

For example:
Child says: “We’re going on a bear hunt!” 🐻
They’re not talking about bears. They may be telling you: “Something’s ending” or “We’re about to go somewhere new.”

This is where you come in as the communication detective:
✨ Look at the context → what’s happening right now?
✨ Tune into their emotions → what might they be feeling?
✨ Affirm the script → show them you’ve heard and understood.

Once you’ve figured out the why, you can gently model natural language to build on it.
Child: “We’re going on a bear hunt!”
You: “Yes — time to leave!”

When we affirm and expand, echolalia stops being seen as “copying” and starts being what it truly is: a powerful bridge to communication.

💬 Parents… have you noticed your child using favourite phrases or scripts in their own way? What do you think they were really telling you?

Steph | Go Talking Ways

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28/09/2025

When we talk about the sensory system, most people think of the “big five”: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

But here’s the thing, we actually have eight senses. The other three are just as important:
🔹 Vestibular: balance + movement
🔹Proprioception: body awareness (knowing where you are in space, how much force to use)
🔹Interoception: internal signals (hunger, thirst, toileting, emotions)

For neurodivergent children, the sensory system often works differently. That might look like:
🔊 Being overwhelmed by sounds
👕 Finding clothes scratchy or unbearable
🤸 Needing constant movement
🍎 Craving specific tastes or textures
😔 Missing signals like hunger or needing the toilet. Plus many others, everyone’s sensory system is unique.

Here’s the key: sensory differences aren’t “bad behaviour.” They’re the nervous system asking for help.

When we support those sensory needs first → children feel safe + regulated.
And when they’re regulated → connection and communication can really grow.

💬 Does your child show you their sensory preferences in daily life? What does it look like for them?

Steph | Go Talking Ways
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25/09/2025

⚡ Parent Power Hour ⚡

If you’ve ever thought:
❌ “I don’t know how to support my child’s communication.”
❌ “I feel lost in all the advice out there.”
❌ “I just want someone to tell me what’s relevant for us.”

Then the Parent Power Hour is for you.

In just one hour together, we’ll:
👉 Talk through your child’s strengths and needs
👉 Answer your burning questions (about communication, sensory processing, regulation, play)
👉 Create a personalised support plan so you know exactly what to do next.

This isn’t a lecture. It’s not generic. It’s your space to feel heard, supported, and empowered with practical tools that actually work for your family, from an award winning speech and language therapist with near 20yrs experience.

💌 DM me the word POWER to book your online Parent Power Hour today.
It might be the best step you take this week.

Steph | Go Talking Ways

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17/09/2025

I’m so exited to share with you a first of its kind in our location, hosted by Go Talking Ways…

✨ Parents Networking Sip & Paint ✨

Thursday 16th October
10am - 12noon
📍The Bracebridge, Sutton Coldfield

This is an opportunity to meet other parents who are navigating their child’s communication development journey. 💬

What’s included?
🎨 A fun ‘Paint-your-own’ activity (no experience needed!)
☕️ Food + a drink
👜 Goodie bag to take home
🤝 Networking + story-sharing
👩‍⚕️ ACCESS TO ME ! … a speech & language therapist with nearly 20 years’ experience, specialising in gestalt language processing, neurodiversity, early language development & sensory processing… an opportunity to get advice and your questions answered!

All of this for just £35, a couple of hours in a beautiful location, filled with connection, creativity, and fun. 💕

⚡️Spaces are limited and this will sell out quickly.

Contact: info@talkingways.co.uk to register your interest and I’ll send you all the info

Steph
Go Talking Ways

14/09/2025

💬 “Why is he just lining things up?”
💬 “She only plays by herself.”
💬 “He doesn’t play properly.”

I hear this all the time - from schools, from professionals, sometimes even from parents worried about their child’s future.

But here’s the truth ⬇️

For neurodivergent children, play often looks different. And that’s not wrong. It’s not “less.” It’s not “deficient.”

It’s how their brains regulate, explore, and connect.
👉 Repetition, sequences, re-enacting shows = play.
👉 Movement, sensory play, tactile exploring = play.
👉 Solitary play = play (and regulation).

The most powerful thing we can do?
✨ Stop trying to change how they play.
✨ Sit alongside them. Mirror them. Join when invited.
✨ Celebrate their way of being in the world.

Play doesn’t need to look “typical” to grow language. It just needs to be respected, child-led, and joyful. Focus on being present and focus on connection. Thats the best way to build language.

💌 Want some practical ideas? DM me the word PLAY and I’ll send you my Play for Language handout.



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Steph | Go Talking Ways

10/11/2024