Speech and Language Therapists work with us two days each week. They focus on Universal provision, support advice and guidance as requested. They also provide continuing professional development for our staff. They attend our weekly parents coffee mornings.

Speech & Language Therapists 

 

Access to Communication is a highly regarded specialist Speech and Language Therapy service providing bespoke assessment, intervention, and training for individuals with complex communication needs. Established in 2020, the practice delivers specialist, client-led support across the South West, working closely with families, schools, and professionals to create meaningful, individualised communication systems that empower people to communicate confidently and authentically.

Abi - Speech & Language Therapist

The service is led by Abi, founder and lead Speech and Language Therapist. Since qualifying in 2010, Abi has developed extensive expertise in supporting individuals with autism, learning disabilities, brain injury, and complex communication profiles. Her work is defined by highly individualised, creative, and evidence-based practice. Abi specialises in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and is both PODD trained and a registered Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) clinician, enabling her to design tailored communication systems and detailed, person-centred management plans that support both spoken language and alternative communication pathways.

Sara - Inclusive Communication Practitioner

Sara brings over 17 years of experience across education, health, and community settings. Sara is also PODD trained and a registered GLP clinician, with significant expertise in AAC implementation and coaching. She is additionally a Sensory Integration Facilitator, with a strong focus on sensory-led practice, regulation, and inclusion. Her work is further enriched by therapeutic play-based approaches and specialist training in Selective Mutism, supporting individuals in a holistic and responsive way.

Emily - Speech & Language Therapist

The team also includes Emily who qualified in 2023 and brings a strong passion for supporting individuals and families on their communication journey. Emily’s approach is playful, supportive, and family-centred, ensuring therapy is practical, positive, and embedded into everyday life. She has particular interests in speech sound development, language development, and AAC, and has undertaken additional training in AAC and GLP, Makaton (Levels 1–4), Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), speech sound disorders, cued articulation, and Down’s Syndrome. Emily is committed to ongoing professional development and to delivering evidence-based, individualised care that helps individuals build confidence and thrive.

Together, the Access to Communication team combines specialist knowledge, creativity, and a collaborative ethos to deliver high-quality, personalised support, with a strong focus on functional communication, inclusion, and empowering individuals to communicate in ways that work best for them.

Millie - Speech & Language Assistant

Millie is part of the Speech and Language team and offers sessions from Chestnut, the school’s dedicated space for SaLT therapies.  I work closely with our external Speech and Language Therapists and Practitioners from Access to Communication to deliver individual Speech and Language programs for our learners, supporting a variety of needs including speech sound development, gestalt language processors, Selective Mutism and communication difficulties.  

We adopt a child-led approach and follow the Natural Language Acquisition approach to support language development. We deliver a universal provision, utilising Augmentative and Alternative Communication, intensive and play-based interaction, the use of visuals, sensory activities and Makaton.  

We offer a variety of interventions, including Lego Therapy, Communication and Interaction sessions, speech development and AAC through modelling language in classrooms with support from visuals in AAC books and the Supercore program on devices. 

I also run Communication and Interaction sessions for our Online Learning curriculum, so that all of our learners are able to access SaLT provision. 

We have created an environment of total communication to support students and staff members to communicate needs and support interactions.