I love what I do. Graduating as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1998, I’ve spent 20 years learning about child development and supporting families to get better outcomes for their children. 

 

I got the best start professionally. Working for the UK NHS, in socially deprived areas.  I went on to specialise in hearing loss and early intervention, working for 6 years at a Cochlear Implant Programme.   The Ear Foundation gave me the opportunity to share my experience, to work with families alongside a professional training role that has taken me all over the world. 

 

I’ve had some great teachers. My work has given me access to international leaders in the field of child development, to learn from research and share it with others. And then there’s the children with their mums, dads, grandmas and uncles. Nothing shows you what works like putting it into action.

 

In 2016 the greatest teacher arrived, my daughter Eleanor. Now, I know what’s it’s like, to function on days you’re so tired you can’t think - and then get a smile that makes it all worth it. With an 11-year age gap at home, from youngest to oldest child, Eleanor and my 3 wonderful crazy stepchildren have provided plenty of learning over the years.

 

20 years of experience and knowledge acquisition has evolved into a distinct style when supporting language learning - THINK TALK & LEARN. Traditional speech and language approaches (also referred to as bored to death by picture cards) often miss these fundamental factors:

1. Language acquisition is driven by developments in motor skill and cognition. ‘I learn the words in and out, when I can put things in and out and when I’m fascinated by the idea two things can occupy the same space’.

2. Children who grow up in homes, where they are talked to as creative problem solvers, learn more language. And children who learn more language, can use this language to understand other people’s perspectives and have better social skills.

3. From making breakfast to imaginative play, life is full of little problems to solve and things to talk about.

4. Posting a picture card is boring to most children after the age of 3.

 

I’m now living my dream. Talking to and training professionals all around the globe, and delivering my distinct style of speech and language therapy to families local to Nottingham or via video call. I want all parents and professionals who work with children, to know simple things they can do that really make a difference. So I’m sharing my approach far and wide and creating a Youtube channel full of ideas and examples of activities.