On the train to London with some @waitupslt.bsky.social related reading 📚

Great new blog from @thekingsfund.bsky.social highlighting the importance of attending to the experience of waiting, alongside the length of the wait.

Quick trip to London for #InvestInSLT this weekend. Follow @mikeys-wish.bsky.social @peterdjust.bsky.social for updates!

Thousands of children facing 'catastrophic' waits for NHS community care: "Tiya Currie's six-year-old son, Arun...had difficulties with his speech since he was just a toddler. But when Tiya...tried to get help she faced "waiting list after waiting list", she said." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

New #WaitUpSLT blog post: Waiting Lists Are Falling - But Not for Children Who Need Speech and Language Therapy waitupslt.blogspot.com/2026/01/wait...

On 7 Jan 2026 @andrewlewinmp.bsky.social tabled a written Q asking DHSC what steps are being taken to reduce waiting. @karinsmythmp.bsky.social acknowleged "how important it is to patients and clinicians that they receive and deliver treatment faster" but no mention of svs beyond elective care.

🚨 The RCSLT responds to the Home Office's Freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy. ✅ We support the strategy's ambition to reduce violence against women and girls. ❌ We are very concerned it fails to reference communication support. 📰 Full story below. www.rcslt.org/news/rcslt-w...

The Lily Mae Foundation supported me through the worst of times and I will be forever grateful. I'm therefore honoured to have served as a Trustee for them since Summer 2024 and to have contributed to the development of our 2024-25 Impact Report ⬇️. #BabyLoss heyzine.com/flip-book/48...

If you are considering signing up for a research project to share your lived experience, go for it! I joined several & they have given me amazing experiences including speaking at the RCSLT conference & NAPLIC + meeting incredible people raising awareness & improving the lives of people with #DLD.

"If we're angry, it's because we're worried about our child" "Coproduction leads to better services, it shouldn't be a tick box". Important reminders from Diana Boyd at the @nhselect.bsky.social CYP SLT Improvement Forum encouraging practitioners to reflect on how svs are experienced by families.

Thank you @stamma.bsky.social for the opportunity to present about #WaitUpSLT at the Research Arena this morning. Huge thanks to Kirsten Howells for being a superb facilitator and to all the attendees for their thoughtful feedback and questions ⭐

🚨 Today, Richard Quigley MP has a debate on protecting children from domestic abuse. 📋 The RCSLT's newly published briefing on domestic abuse and speech and language therapy highlights the links between domestic abuse and speech, language, and communication: www.rcslt.org/policy-and-i...

What a privilege to be chairing two brilliant #RCSLTConf25 sessions today on: ⭐ Paediatric assessment and intervention with @vanigupta.bsky.social, Steph Scott and Dr Jenna Charlton ⭐ Working with people who stammer with Sarah Caughter and Dr Ronan Miller (and me)

🚨With the Budget just a day away, some quotes from ministers and NICE over the past few months which kind of highlight why the Govt needs to #InvestInSLT and publish its SLT Action Plan. 1/

New #WaitUpSLT blog post: What to do if you are unhappy with the wait for children's speech and language therapy in England. waitupslt.blogspot.com/2025/11/what...

📋 You can read the RCSLT's written evidence to the @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk on the link below. 2/2 committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...

🚨 The @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk has published its report. 🔍 The RCSLT's analysing the report but we're pleased to see: 1⃣ our evidence on speech, language, and communication quoted 2⃣ echoes of our #InclusiveParliament work 1/ committees.parliament.uk/committee/77...

Bit of DHealthing this afternoon with my little helper. @waitupslt.bsky.social #AcademicTwitter

"In September 2024, more than 64,000 children in England were waiting for SLT... Behind each number is a child struggling to communicate in the classroom, a young adult trying to rebuild their life after a brain injury..." @sureenawne.bsky.social at the #InvestInSLT debate on 27 Jan 2025

😊 As we always say, RCSLT couldn't do our policy & influencing work without our members or people who have had speech and language therapy. So, it's great to hear from Peter Bradley at the start of our all staff day, about his experiences and work with RCSLT Northern Ireland.

📺 You can watch @gillianrudd.bsky.social's oral evidence to the Modernisation Committee on behalf of the #InclusiveParliament coalition on the link below. 2/2 www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

🚨 #InclusiveParliament coalition update 📨 Great for RCSLT to see @gillianrudd.bsky.social's letter to the Modernisation Committee after her oral evidence has been published: committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide... 📰 There's more in STAMMA's news story: stamma.org/about-us/new... 1/

Coffee mornings for dead kids. "Hospice care isn’t just about dignity at the end of life (though that should be enough). It’s about crisis prevention, family preservation, and economic sense." A beautiful and important piece from Dan McEvoy medium.com/p/coffee-mor...

We're looking for a short-term volunteer with expertise in UK charity structures and law to help offer advice and practical support. Apply via Reach Volunteering reachvolunteering.org.uk/opp...

"Recruitment is one side of the coin, but retention is the other." During the #InvestInSLT debate on 27 Jan 2025, Dave Robertson, MP for Lichfield, recognised the issues with burnout, insufficient support and unsustainable workloads in speech and language therapy.

In 2022, SNJ carried out research into the experiences of families from ethnic and marginalised communities when asking for support for their disabled children. The results were very concerning: www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...

"How do the Government intend to alleviate pressure in this area? Do they intend to fund more places, especially at the university level? These are complex issues, and highly skilled people are needed." @saqibbhattimp.bsky.social at the #InvestInSLT Speech and Language Therapy debate on 27 Jan 2025

💜What does it mean if your sibling has DLD? This books explains a diagnosis & gives them words to explain it to others. 💛 Looks at skills they have as a sibling & how to look after themselves. 💜 Available via online retailers. My brother has DLD amzn.eu/d/8Hyb20V My sister has DLD amzn.eu/d/dbF0oIT

Kelly Williams is now sharing her experiences of stroke and aphasia and finding support and community at @mybcu.bsky.social She praises the help she has received from @claireslt.bsky.social and #SLTatBCU students. "6 years later I realise I still have a voice". #SLTeaParty

Barry Butterworth is now sharing his experiences of stroke, aphasia and accessing speech and language therapy. He talks about his role at @mybcu.bsky.social as an Expert by Experience and praises the work of @claireslt.bsky.social particularly. #SLTeaParty

Presenting next at our #SLTeaParty is the fabulous Sara Uddin, #SLTatBCU student and BCUSALTSOC President. Sara's talk focuses on the importance of: - Compassion - Connection and community - Awareness - The future Follow them on Insta: www.instagram.com/saltsocatbcu...

Derek Munn from RCSLT is now speaking to attendees at our @mybcu.bsky.social #SLTeaParty on four themes: - History - Equality - Birmingham - The future Derek reflects on the developments in the profession over time and how BCU fits in - we've been training SLTs for almost 60 years!

The #SLTeaParty at @mybcu.bsky.social is underway! How wonderful to be celebrating 80 years of RCSLT with our staff, students and partners 🎉

The first #WaitUpSLT project advisory group meetings take place next month and it's not too late to join us. If you'd like to read more about the project, the #WaitUpSLT blog is a good place to start: waitupslt.blogspot.com/2025/07/intr... Please share to help spread the word 🙏

Croydon Council pause EHCP speech and language therapy 'without telling parents'. Parents, please look into judicial review proceedings to ensure your child's SLT as written into their plan is upheld. SOS!SEN and IPSEA have info about JRs. www.mylondon.news/news/south...

Recently on SNJ: How to choose a speech and language therapist for your child with SEND: A guide for parents and carer www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...

"Speech and language therapists are overstretched, underfunded and working in systems that fail to meet the demands of local needs." Shockat Adam @shockatadam.bsky.social at the #InvestInSLT Speech and Language Therapy debate on 27 January 2025: hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...

"Speech and language therapists are overstretched, underfunded and working in systems that fail to meet the demands of local needs." Shockat Adam @shockatadam.bsky.social at the #InvestInSLT Speech and Language Therapy debate on 27 January 2025: hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...

Are you the parent or carer of a child born in 2023? Please fill in our #research questionnaire on #talking and #thinking! cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... It takes about 40mins and is anonymous but you can choose to be entered into a prize draw 😊 Please share! #SLPeeps

"The current system is underfunded, overstretched and unprepared for the future." Sureena Brackenridge @sureenawne.bsky.social, MP, speaking at the #InvestInSLT speech and language therapy debate on 27 January 2025.

"The current system is underfunded, overstretched and unprepared for the future." Sureena Brackenridge MP speaking at the #InvestInSLT speech and language therapy debate on 27 January 2025.

"Recruitment is one side of the coin, but retention is the other." During the #InvestInSLT debate on 27 Jan 2025, Dave Robertson, MP for Lichfield, recognised the issues with burnout, insufficient support and unsustainable workloads in speech and language therapy.

5yo is talking about a game he and his school friend played today. 5: AND THEN, me and AJ pretended we were ALIENS and we ATTACKED THE SLIDE with ALIEN SLIME! Me: Wow, sounds like you and AJ are two silly geese. 5: Now, Mom. You know we are not. Fink about it. Do we fly south for the winter? 🙄

Overheard, said by a mother to a small child as they came out of nursery together: "Oh no! There is MORE lava! We'll have to do a Really Big Jump!" #TinyJoys

Hello 🦋 #bskySPEECHIES, SLT advocates, parents of children & young people with #SLCN & other dedicated #childSPEECHdis #devLANGdis 💃🕺movers & shakers. The #INVESTinSLT push has important implications internationally. Please amplify📣 this message 🇬🇧 #budget2025🇬🇧 #budget25🇬🇧 @ukparliament.parliament.uk

📢 RCSLT highlighted the need to #InvestInSLT in our submission to The Treasury's Autumn Budget 2025/Spending Review consultation and referenced @mikeys-wish.bsky.social's petition. ▶️ Read our submission in full: rcslt.org/wp-content/u...

🚨 9 months since the #InvestInSLT petition was debated in Parliament, we are calling on the UK Government to: 1️⃣ Use the Budget to ensure sufficient resources for services 2️⃣ Bring forward its SLT Action Plan ➡️ Read our statement in full: www.rcslt.org/wp-content/u... #Budget25 #Budget2025 #SLT

Mikey's MP @saqibbhattimp.bsky.social has written to @skinnock.bsky.social asking for an update on the action plan that was promised to the #InvestinSLT team for improving speech and language services @peterdjust.bsky.social @gillianrudd.bsky.social @bammo44.bsky.social @dharford79.bsky.social

Calling all speech and language therapy colleagues and partners! Come join our #SLTeaParty at @mybcu.bsky.social on 14th November marking 80 years of RCSLT ⤵️ www.bcu.ac.uk/news-events/...

Thank you @saqibbhattimp.bsky.social for our unplanned meeting today. Great to catch up about #InvestInSLT, #BabyLoss, #InclusiveParliament and other issues.