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What is Speech Link?
Speech Link is an innovative online tool designed to support children with speech, language, and communication needs in educational settings. It provides educators with the resources and assessments necessary to identify and address speech and language difficulties in students. By offering a structured approach, Speech Link helps ensure that children receive the appropriate interventions to improve their communication skills.
One of the key advantages of Speech Link is its comprehensive assessment tools, which allow teachers to accurately identify specific speech and language issues. The platform also includes a variety of targeted intervention activities that are both engaging and effective. Additionally, Speech Link offers detailed progress tracking, enabling educators to monitor student improvements and adjust interventions as needed. This ensures that each child receives personalized support tailored to their unique needs.
In schools, Speech Link is typically implemented by speech and language therapists in collaboration with classroom teachers. The process begins with an initial assessment to identify students who may benefit from the program. Once identified, these students participate in regular intervention sessions, which are integrated into their daily school routine. Teachers and therapists work together to review progress and make any necessary adjustments to the intervention plan, ensuring that each child continues to make strides in their speech and language development.
Recommended Usage
Educational Impact
 Age Range | 5-7, 8-10 |
 Policies |  Terms of ServicePrivacy Policy |
 Requirements | Internet - Low BandwidthInternet - High BandwidthDesktop - MacDesktop - WindowsDesktop - Chromebook An internet connection (wired where possible) is required and good quality speakers. As the assessment is adult-led we don't recommend using iPads. |
 Training | Videos Included in the Speech Link package are 4 training videos that guide the user through each stage of the package. |
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Speech Link PricingPricing Plans Paid Subscription Speech Link pricing starts from £180 / year Speech Link has a one off start up cost of £150+VAT and then an annual subscription of £180+VAT (£320+VAT in the first year)* The subscription is paid annually and is for as many children and computers as the school has. * Multiple packcage discounts are available if school purchases Speech Link in conjunction with Infant or Junior Language Link. | |
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Speech Link Reviews
from 25 Verified Reviews
User rating
Country
Jul 2022
overall we have found good experiences when using speech and language link however we find that some of the language resources are not clear in explaining what area they are meant for.
Tess and Danielle found Speech Link:
- Does not reduce teacher workload
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency“If the children's speech and language has improved then this will have an impact on there overall learning and levels therefore teaching efficiency will be raised as less time will be needed on said children.”
- Does not significantly improve teacher knowledge“None”
Jun 2022
as above
S found Speech Link:
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload“providing resouces”
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency“provides resources”
- Does not significantly improve teacher knowledge“does nto give info on how to make the sounds and tongue postion etc I dont' think any videos of speech sessions”
May 2022
great intervention
Beth Wade found Speech Link:
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“All interventions easy to access”
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency“Planningeasy to follow”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“Understanding the childrens needs”
Liz Webb
Speech and language coordinator /TA
Used Speech Link daily for 5 years+
Feb 2022
Speech link is always evolving. The resources are excellent. Also if I have a question or need help nothing is considered a silly question. Help desk is brilliant.
Liz Webb found Speech Link:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“helps with listening skills”
- Does not improve teaching efficiency
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge
Wendy Springett
Assistant SENDCo
Used Speech Link occasionally for 1-2 years
Feb 2022
We have support from our NHS SALT team and use Speech Link internally only as an initial assessment
Wendy Springett found Speech Link:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“No”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency
- Does not significantly improve teacher knowledge
Feb 2022
The package is brilliant. I use it at least weekly. The children love the listening games, as they are very child friendly. The children do not realise that they are working on their sound. They are having too much fun!
Karen Smith found Speech Link:
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“None”
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency“None”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge“If the teacher understands the sound difficulties, they can be more aware of modelling.”
Jan 2022
It was a very useful and informative resource
Kim found Speech Link:
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Having the assessment and the follow-on resources available”
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency“Having a detailed set of plans and resources”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“As you work through the areas needed it helps to improve your knowledge”
Dec 2021
I find it very useful
S found Speech Link:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“not having to search for resources”
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency“not having to research for resources”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge“need more support in running a speech intervention”
Dec 2021
Easy to use and effective strategies and resources
Amy found Speech Link:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Resources to send home to parents and to use for interventions”
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency“Classroom strategies”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“Knowledge of the needs of their children”
Nov 2021
excellent resource
Rebecc found Speech Link:
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“helps to highlight children's difficulties quickly”
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency“highlights children's difficulties quickly”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge“can use targeted resources”
Oct 2021
Speechlink is a very useful screening tool
Becky Evans found Speech Link :
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge
May 2020
It is easy to use and is comprehensive
Kate Burgess found Speech Link:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“I use the speech link assessments regularly and use the activities, games and advice”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“When I am short of time and cannot prepare resources I use the games and activities when working one to one and in small groups”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“The assessment reports breakdown and explain areas of weakness and suggests targets”
May 2020
This year it has taken a very long time to organise and prepare materials. We cannot afford as a school to buy ready made materials. It would be a lovely resource to supplement SALT materials; but we do not feel it can replace a SALT assessment which is what is happening in our authority. We do not feel we have the expertise to really assess children accurately. Some children who are very difficult to understand did not score that badly, which we sometimes feel is down to our ability to identify difficulties. e.g what is a 'slushy' s.
Pat Alston found Speech Link:
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“We currently have no SALT for Non EHCP children so it is the only SALT we can provide for these children.”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“Laminating and preparing the materials has taken a lot of time. next year it will be much easier and will save time planning activities”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge and skills“LSAs tend to do the programmes with children.”
May 2020
I find it a valuable tool to support colleagues with limited knowledge of how speech develops and promote progress for the children
Carrie found Speech Link:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“teachers feel empowered to find their own resources and incorporate them into their own planning and curriculum delivery”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“resources are ready to download and use”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“teachers are encouraged to complete the video training and read relevant information on the website.”
May 2020
As a school our SEND provision is so good BECAUSE we use speechlink, in my view it's unbeatable
Tina Godden found Speech Link:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Being able to understand what individual children need to support them means we can put in the right strategies and interventions”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“It provides us with a brilliant assessment of pupil needs and gives strategies saving time for teachers and more importantly saving wasted time for the children who need support”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“There is so much guidance and information”
Apr 2020
Brilliant resources excellent assessment but does need time to get all children assessed as 1-1
Jenny Thomas found Speech Link:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“targets specific children”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“sets targets and supplies resources”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“assessment prcedures”
Apr 2020
I really like the site, the support I get, the resources
Claire found Speech Link:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“upskilling LSAs and myself as to how to support and give understanding”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“resources are all made and there on one site”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“great resources”
Apr 2020
I would reccomand this programme and it always shows so much proggress
Lynsey found Speech Link:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Games are intense as are lesson packs, gives you clear structure and a want to learn”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“LSAS teach these lessons so releases pressure of ctreachers”
- Slightly improves teacher knowledge and skills“it depends how involved the teaching staff want to be”
Apr 2020
Speechlink is a good way to identify needs early & the interventions often resolve a difficulty without the need to refer to SALT. If the speech is particularly difficult to understand the report advises to make a referral which SALT accept
Jeanette Wellard found Speech Link:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Children make good progress”
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload“No need to write lesson plans”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“Often teachers have had no training in this area”
Vicki
Teaching assistant
Used Speech Link for 2 and a half years
Apr 2020
The assessment is straightforward and identifies the areas that a pupil needs support in. Pupils can be grouped together easily. The data is collected online and easy to complete. Reports can be printed to share with parents and other agencies, the data can be collated at the end of the year. The information can feed into pupil targets and end of year reports. Pupils can give their their opinions about school at the start and end of the year. Pupils can be retested each year The activities are really engaging and can be used in the classroom, at home with parents as well as intervention groups.
Vicki found Speech Link:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“The children have a better understanding of everyday language and concepts being used in the classroom which means they are able to work with more independence and are less reliant on adult (teacher or TA) support.”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“The initial assessment identifies areas that individual pupils need to work on and teachers can then set smart targets for their pupils.”
Apr 2020
As part of a Lead for local schools forums and part of the Communication Trust and the APPG for SLCN - I would recommend Speech Link and Language Link to all professionals and parents/carers of children with slcn - it is an evidence based assessment and support programme, which is delivered in an easy to administer style with excellent resources and knowledgeable background. It also shows progression of learning in each of the areas, including target setting and monitoring. I would insist on using Speechlink/Language Link wherever I worked and recommend it to all my colleagues and teaching teams.
Julie found Speech Link:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Using many of the language games as warm up and pre-teaching concepts for SEN cherubs”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“It's there, it just needs printing off; colourful and engaging and created from an experienced source”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“Language through colour - we now use this as part of our Quality First Teaching - all lower ability groups are given who/what doing/where warm ups before writing; the sentence frames etc I could go on.”
Apr 2020
Have used for years and seen how easy it is to implement and track impact
Emma found Speech Link:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Awareness of in class speech support opportunities”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Not having to consider speech support just as an extraction intervention and giving planning and resources”
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“Planning”
Apr 2020
has been really useful so far but only been using for a short amount of time
K Sherrington found Speech Link:
- Moderately improves teaching efficiency and productivity“focus the specific needs of the children”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“not really”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“teachers can see where children have weakness and strength”
Apr 2020
I am part of school that has a very large number of children who have been identified as having speech and language concerns, with how our county are working at the moment it means a significant number of children are still not getting the support they need, which is frustrating. However it has highlighted the need for further support and it does provide good interventions to use when we can
Joanna Thomas found Speech Link:
- Slightly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“it has identified areas that a large number of children need further support with so whole class teaching has covered this area more”
- Does not significantly reduce teacher workload“The reception class teachers have had to spend a large amount of time assessing the children”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“as mentioned earlier it has highlighted areas children need further support with”
Apr 2020
I find it rewarding when a teacher praises a child for work they are more able to do after blocks of work on links.
sharon found Speech Link:
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Significantly improves teacher knowledge and skills“links can sometimes uncover an underlying problem with a childs speech and or understanding of their daily language.”