Referrals

If you are unsure whether to refer your child to the Speech and Language Therapy service, please speak to a health or education professional - e.g., health visitor, pre-school or school SENCo. You could also take a look at Speech and Language UK Ages and Stages for typical stages of speech and language development from birth to 17 years.

All Local Authority Schools within Peterborough have a Link Therapist. Click on the link to find out more about the Link therapist role [pdf] 258KB. If you are unsure who your Link Therapist is, please contact the service and we'll be happy to help

Pre-school Referrals: Telephone Advice Line

If you are concerned about your child's speech, language or communication please book a Telephone Advice Line appointment to speak to one of our Therapist's via this link:  Speech and Language Therapy Telephone Drop-in (office365.com)

WE ARE AWARE THAT SOMETIMES OUR SLOTS ARE FULLY BOOKED FOR THE MONTH – If you are attempting to book and there are no telephone advice slots left, please check back on the 1st of the month, as more slots are added monthly.  In the meantime, please do look at our resources under ‘early language’, ‘early communication’ and 'late talkers'— Speech and Language Therapy Toolkit | CPFT NHS Trust resources section for support.

If your child will be starting school in September 2025 please DO NOT book a telephone advice line slot. Due to our wait times, we will be unable to see your child before they start school. We advise you to speak to your school SENCo about your concerns when your child starts school. In the meantime, please see our toolkit for activities and advice while you are waiting.  

Whilst waiting to speak to a speech and language therapist you can also access support and advice at your local family centre (How Are You Peterborough? | Barnardo’s Child and Family Centres) or Nursery setting

Please note this service is for parents/carers of pre-school children aged 0-5 who have a Peterborough GP. If you live and/or are registered with a GP in Cambridgeshire please refer to Cambs Community Services. 

If your child is school-aged please see 'Primary School Age Referrals' section. For any queries regarding the correct service please email us at cpm-tr.SLTmailforparents@nhs.net

If you have significant concerns regarding your child's general development or social interaction, please speak to your Health Visitor or Early Years setting as they should be able to support you with completing an Early Help Assessment, so that your child can access more specialist services.

Primary School Age Referrals

For children of primary school age, all referrals into our team come via our ‘Request for Involvement (RFI)’ process unless they are for eating/drinking concerns or voice difficulties. For these specialist referrals please see the relevant sections below:

  •   Eating & Drinking Concerns:   Referrals can be made by schools or health professionals — please complete this referral form:  Eating & Drinking referral form [docx] 245KB
  •   Voice: Please see Voice section in the drop-down menu.

 

All other primary school-aged children (Speech Sounds, Language, Non/Minimally Speaking, Stammering) can be referred via the RFI Process. 

If you are a Parent/Carer please note that all referrals (RFI’s) are made via the following RFI Process which is led by your child’s school SENCo. If you have concerns and would like your child to be referred, please speak with your child’s SENCo who will be able to make an RFI if required. We welcome parents to contact us at any time where there are difficulties with this process or if you have questions ( cpm-tr.sltmailforparents@nhs.net ).

 

The Request for Involvement (RFI) Process:                                                       

Every School has a Link Speech and Language Therapist who supports them in developing Speech, Language and Communication provision throughout the school including discussing and managing referrals into the service (RFI’s). The Link Therapist will meet with the school SENCo regularly for RFI Discussion Meetings to talk about RFI’s. 

In order to make an RFI, we require consent from parents/carers and relevant screening information to help us identify the child’s specific needs. All paperwork and screening information must be sent into us via email (cpm-tr.sltmailforparents@nhs.net ) at least 2 weeks prior to the RFI Discussion Meeting. The information we require, and evidence of interventions already implemented depends on the child’s age/areas of need. These are outlined below:

All Children:  Parents/Carers to complete the Parent/Carer consent form for RFI discussion meeting[docx] 235KB

 

Speech:  12 weeks of specific speech sound activities (group or 1:1) that are relevant to the child’s speech sound errors. Evidence of the child’s needs and progress needs to be provided i.e., a screen/assessment and progress tracker. This intervention could include the below:

  • Access to a subscribed external speech sound package e.g., Speech Link
  • Access to our service’s phonological awareness group (EYFS only) – see here:  Training and Webinars
  • Implementation of specific speech sound activities e.g., minimal pairs, single sound practise, word-level production activities. Please use the speech sound screening tool below and  Steps to Speech Intervention Pack.pdf[pdf] 2MB booklet to help. If you are still unsure where to start with a child please speak to your school’s Link Therapist.

 

EYFS – Year 4 Language:  12 weeks of a specific language intervention (group or 1:1) that is relevant to the child’s specific difficulties. Evidence of the child’s needs and progress needs to be provided i.e., a screen/assessment and progress tracker. This intervention could include the below:

  • Access to a subscribed language package e.g., Language Link, Wellcomm, TalkBoost, NELI
  • Access to one our service’s language intervention groups (please note: these can also be tailored for 1:1 support) – please see at:  Training and Webinars  Please use our language screens (below) to support you in identifying the correct intervention group / activities.
  • Implementation of specific language activities e.g., Colourful Semantics, Language for Thinking, Black Sheep Press Packs. Ensure to keep a clear record of sessions completed and progress made.  If you are still unsure where to start with a child please speak to your school’s Link Therapist.

 

Year 5 & 6 Language:   Please complete our Key Stage 2 Language screen (see below). Please Note: 12 weeks of intervention is not required prior to making an RFI.

 

Non-speaking or minimally speaking children:  Complete this referral form:  Non-speaking and minimally speaking referral form [docx] 240KB

 

Children who Stammer:  C omplete the Stammering referral form [docx] 246KB . Please note that Referrals for children who Stammer can also be made by parents or other professionals. It is also beneficial for the relevant language screening tool below (depending on age) to be completed if possible.

 

Screening tools (as of September 2025)

For video guidance on how to complete the screens, please see below:

RFI Tick List:

  • Identify concerns and complete relevant screening tools.
  • Plan and carry out relevant interventions if required for 12 weeks.
  • Book an RFI discussion meeting with Link Therapist. Please note all referrals/paperwork will be returned if you do not have an RFI meeting already booked with your link Therapist. Please contact the service if you require contact details for your link Therapist – cpm-tr.sltmailforparents@nhs.net )
  • Complete RFI Paperwork including parent/carer consent, evidence of interventions, relevant screening tools if required.
  • Send all paperwork via email to us at cpm-tr.sltmailforparents@nhs.net   at least 2 WEEKS prior to the RFI Discussion Meeting. Please put ‘RFI’ in the email subject line. Please can we ask schools send in one email per a child and attach appropriate forms as separate attachments.  

 

What happens after an RFI is made?

After the RFI is discussed with the Link Therapist in the RFI discussion meeting, advice and next steps will be provided, and either of the following will then be agreed:

  • Child to continue to receive school-based support
  • Child to be referred into the service for assessment/advice

Please note if the scheduled RFI Meeting does not go ahead within 6 weeks of sending the RFI you will be required to re-submit updated documentation.

 

Home-educated children:

Please follow the referral process as above.

If you are a parent/carer of a child with speech sounds and/or language needs, and are unsure how to gather evidence of implementing specific interventions at home, please contact us at cpm-tr.sltmailforparents@nhs.net   , and our team would be happy to support you.

 

Please Note: Our service continues to be under high demand and therefore our waiting times for assessment are long. In the meantime, please take a look at our online toolkit with ideas of how you can support your child at home:  https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/speech-and-language-therapy-toolkit  

Secondary School age Referrals

For children/young people of secondary school age, all referrals into our team come via our ‘Request for Involvement (RFI)’ process unless they are for stammering, eating/drinking concerns or voice difficulties. For these specialist referrals please see the relevant sections below:

All other secondary school aged children/young people (Speech Sounds, Language, Non/Minimally Speaking) can be referred via the RFI Process.

If you are a Parent/Carer please note that all referrals (RFI’s) are made via the following RFI Process which is led by your child/young person’s school SENCo. If you have concerns and would like your child to be referred, please speak with your child’s SENCo who will be able to make an RFI if required.

 

The Request for Involvement (RFI) Process:                                             

Every School has a Link Speech and Language Therapist who can support them in developing Speech, Language and Communication provision throughout the school including discussing and managing referrals into the service (RFI’s). The Link Therapist will meet with the school SENCo upon request for an RFI Discussion Meetings to talk about RFI’s. 

In order to make an RFI, we require consent from parents/carers and relevant screening information to help us identify the young person’s specific needs. All paperwork and screening information must be sent into us via email ( cpm-tr.SLTmailforparents@nhs.net  ) at least 2 weeks prior to an RFI Discussion Meeting. The information we require and paperwork are outlined below:

 

RFI Tick List:

  • Identify concerns and complete relevant screening tool/s, referral form, parent/carer consent form and young person’s views.
  • Book and RFI discussion meeting with Link Therapist. Please note all referrals/paperwork will be returned if you do not have an RFI meeting already booked with your link Therapist. Please contact the service if you require contact details for your link Therapist – cpm-tr.sltmailforparents@nhs.net )
  • Send all paperwork via email to us at cpm-tr.SLTmailforparents@nhs.net  at least 2 WEEKS prior to the RFI Discussion Meeting. Please put ‘RFI’ in the email subject line. Please can we ask schools send in one email per a child and attach appropriate forms as separate attachments.

Please note if the scheduled RFI Meeting does not go ahead within 6 weeks of sending the RFI you will be required to re-submit updated documentation.

 

What happens after an RFI is made?

After the RFI is discussed with the Link Therapist in the RFI discussion meeting, advice and next steps will be provided, and one of the following will then be agreed:

  1. The Therapist may advise that a referral is not required at this time as your child/young person’s communication appears typical from the evidence given.  
  2. The Therapist may give some advice to the SENCo and suggest strategies that may support the young person in school.
  3. The Therapist may decide that they would like to directly assess your child/young person which will involve a face to face appointment.

 

What to expect at an assessment appointment?  

The appointment will tend to take place in school. Appointments tend to last anywhere from an hour to two hours depending on your child/young person and their needs. The assessment may take place over two visits. During the appointment, the Therapist may: 

  • Observe the young person and have a chat with them about what they find easy and difficult in relation to their communication
  • Complete some informal/formal assessments with the young person
  • Discuss the young person with a member of teaching staff

The Therapist will then write a report with recommended strategies and advice, which will be shared with you and school. If you have any questions once receiving this report, you are welcome to contact the service.

Whilst waiting you may find it helpful to look at our online toolkit with ideas of how you can support your young person at home:  https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/speech-and-language-therapy-toolkit

 

Home-educated children:

Please follow the referral process as above.

If you are a parent/carer of a child with speech sounds and/or language needs, and are unsure how to gather evidence of implementing specific interventions at home, please contact us at  cpm-tr.SLTmailforparents@nhs.net  , and our team would be happy to support you.

 

Please Note: Our service continues to be under high demand and therefore our waiting times for assessment are long. In the meantime, please take a look at our online toolkit with ideas of how you can support your child at home:  https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/speech-and-language-therapy-toolkit  

Special School Referrals

A Request for Involvement (RFI) from the service for speech, language and communication support, can be made by the child/young person’s class teacher using the appropriate RFI form below: 

LAO RFI Form.docx [docx] 230KB

Heltwate RFI Form.docx [docx] 232KB

Medeshamstede RFI Form.docx [docx] 234KB

All schools must also ensure that parents/carers complete the following:  Parent/Carer Consent Form for Special School RFI.docx [docx] 233KB

Please ensure that the relevant RFI form and the parent/carer consent form are both completed and emailed along with the child/young person’s most recent EHC Plan to cpm-tr.SLTmailforparents@nhs.net

The link therapist for your school will then triage the referral. They may contact the class teacher and/or parents/carers if they have any questions or need any further information before making a decision regarding the referral.

For eating and/or drinking concerns — please complete this separate referral form: Eating & Drinking referral form.docx[docx] 245KB

Please Note: Referrals into the service for other specialist schools/settings (i.e., Marshfields, NeneGate, Richard Barnes Academy) are to follow the primary school and secondary school referral processes, as detailed in the drop-downs above.

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Eating and Drinking Referrals

If you have concerns over a child's eating/drinking and are a professional please complete the following referral form (includes parent/carer consent) and email it into our service at cpm-tr.SLTmailforparents@nhs.net

Eating & Drinking referral form.docx[docx] 245KB

If you are a parent, please visit your child’s GP or discuss your concerns with their Health Visitor in the first instance.

Voice Referrals

If you have concerns about your child’s voice or your child has lost their voice for more than 3 weeks, you should see your GP to request a referral to ENT (Ears, Nose and Throat) at the hospital. The ENT consultant will carry out an examination of the larynx (i.e.voicebox). If they consider it appropriate, they will make a referral to the Children's Speech and Language Therapy team. We are only able to accept referrals once the child has had this ENT examination. 

What should I expect at my child’s appointment?  

Once your child has been seen by ENT and a referral has been made to the Speech and Language Therapy team, we will offer an initial assessment appointment with a Speech and Language Therapist. Your child's appointment will take place in clinic or at your child's school. Please be prepared to discuss your concerns regarding your child’s voice. The Therapist will ask you questions about your child’s voice and the impact on their every day life. For older children, it can be helpful if they contribute to this discussion.

The appointment tends to last an hour. Another appointment may be arranged to complete the assessment if necessary. During the appointment, the Therapist may:

  • Discuss the findings from your child's ENT appointment.
  • Talk about how the voice works.
  • Discuss your child's voice difficulties with you.
  • Provide advice on how you and your child can support your child's voice.
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