How to Use the Summer Holidays to Support Your Child’s Speech and Language (South West London Guide)
For many families, the summer holidays are the first time all year that things slow down enough to think about their child’s development.
If you’ve been wondering about your child’s speech, language, or communication skills, you’re not alone, and the summer can actually be one of the best times to take that next step.
At South West Speech Therapy, we often hear from parents across South West London, including Clapham, Battersea, and Wandsworth, who have had concerns for a while but haven’t had the time to explore them properly during term time.
In this guide, we’ll explain:
when to seek support
why summer can be the ideal time
and what your options are if you’re based in South West London
Why the Summer Holidays Are a Good Time to Seek Speech and Language Support
During term time, it can be difficult to prioritise appointments. Between school, activities, and busy schedules, many parents delay getting advice, even when they have concerns.
The summer offers something different:
More flexible schedules
Less pressure from school routines
Time to focus on your child without rushing
For many families, this creates the opportunity to finally:
understand what’s going on
get professional advice
and feel more confident about next steps
Common Reasons Parents Seek Support Over the Summer
We often hear from parents who say:
“We’ve been meaning to look into this for a while”
“School mentioned something, but we didn’t have time to follow it up”
“I’m not sure if I should be concerned or not”
Some common areas we support at South West Speech Therapy include:
Speech clarity (difficulty being understood)
Language development (understanding or using language)
Social communication skills
Attention and listening
If any of these sound familiar, a short period of focused support can make a real difference.
Do Children Need Weekly Therapy?
Not always.
While ongoing therapy can be helpful, many families benefit from a different approach, especially over the summer.
A short, structured period of support can help you:
Understand your child’s strengths and needs
Learn practical strategies to use at home
Gain clarity about whether further support is needed
This can be particularly useful if you’re not ready to commit to weekly sessions.
What Does Summer Speech and Language Support Look Like?
Rather than weekly therapy, some families choose a more focused approach over the holidays.
At South West Speech Therapy, this might include:
A detailed assessment of your child’s communication
A parent coaching session to talk through what’s going on
Practical strategies tailored to your child
A follow-up session to support implementation
The goal is not to “do everything at once”, but to help you leave with:
clarity
confidence
and a clear plan
Finding a Speech and Language Therapist in South West London
If you’re based in South West London, including Clapham, Battersea, Wandsworth and surrounding areas, you may be considering private speech and language therapy.
When choosing a therapist, it can be helpful to look for:
Experience working with children of a similar age
A clear approach to assessment and support
Someone who involves parents in the process
Flexibility around scheduling (especially in holidays)
South West Speech Therapy is based in South West London and supports children and families across the local area.
Is It Worth Seeking Support Over the Summer?
For many families, the answer is yes.
Even a small amount of focused support can:
provide reassurance
help you understand your child better
and give you practical tools to use day-to-day
You don’t need to have all the answers before reaching out, that’s what we’re here for.
Summer Support at South West Speech Therapy
At South West Speech Therapy, we offer a small number of Summer Assessment & Coaching Intensives.
These are designed for families who:
want to understand their child’s communication
are not ready for ongoing therapy
or want to make use of the summer period
Each package includes:
a detailed assessment
a parent coaching session
a follow-up session
and a personalised plan
We keep the number of spaces limited to ensure each family receives focused support.
Get in Touch
If you’ve been thinking about seeking support for your child, the summer can be a great time to start.
You’re very welcome to get in touch with South West Speech Therapy to:
ask questions
discuss whether this is the right fit
or find out more about availability
South West Speech Therapy is a paediatric speech and language therapy clinic based in South West London, supporting families in Clapham, Battersea, Wandsworth and surrounding areas.
Therapist spotlight: Emma Pomroy
We decided this year to create a blog series called “therapist spotlight” to share insights, learnings and stories from our team. It seems only fair that I start this series, and tell you how I came to be a private paediatric speech & language therapist living & practicing in Wandsworth, South-West London!
Why did you become a speech therapist?
I knew from an early age, that I needed to do a job I loved and that felt meaningful (I had watched my Dad do jobs he hated, and then find his passion and I felt determined to find mine). During my school work experience, I saw for the first time what speech therapy was. I had my work experience at a school for children with acquired brain injuries and I watched the ‘speechies’ support these children to tell their parents they loved them, express pain, annoyance and joy. What could be more important than that?! Plus it was a job where I could play for a living!
What do you wish more people knew about speech & language differences?
It’s ok to not have the answer to what works best for that child. You’re not expected to be an expert in them, but often by talking to their parents, or the child themselves if old enough – you will learn a lot.
What is a recent therapy win/ highlight that you can share?
We recently had an amazing training session from Dani (the OT who uses our therapy space on a Saturday), all about sensory profiles. I have started using more visual & tactile sensory input in my sessions and it has made the biggest difference! I am seeing more regulated children and more communication as a result!
What does a 'typical' session look like with you?
This is a hard question to answer, because in my practice ‘typical’ doesn’t really exist! What I do is so bespoke to each child, their interests and their profile that every session varies. It is what makes my job the most fun and the most tiring, because so much thinking and planning goes into every session!
However, the guiding principles for me are; shared joy, being a cheerleader for that little person & celebrating who they are and what they can do, and ensuring we get plenty of time playing with things/ activities they adore, whilst sneaking in therapy targets.
Check back for more therapist spotlights coming soon!
My Favourite Speech & Language Therapy Toys This Autumn
One of the joys of being a speech and language therapist is discovering creative, playful tools that bring sessions to life. This autumn, I’ve been leaning on a few standout toys that have made therapy not only effective, but also full of laughter and excitement.
Voice Recording Buttons 🎤
These simple, colourful buttons have been a hit across age groups. You can record short phrases, single words, or sound effects, and children love the instant playback. I’ve been using them for:
Turn-taking games: Each child records their response and presses the button when it’s their turn.
Choice-making: Record different options and let children press to choose.
Speech sound practice: Children record their target word and then listen back – a motivating way to build awareness of how they sound.
The immediate feedback keeps children engaged, and it’s a brilliant way to build confidence in a playful way.
Balloon Pump with Car Attachments 🚗🎈
This one has been an absolute favourite! The pump inflates balloons that attach to little cars. Once the balloon is full, the car zooms off across the floor – and the anticipation is just as exciting as the race itself.
I’ve used it for:
Turn-taking and waiting skills: Everyone gets a turn pumping and racing their car.
Requesting and commenting: Children are motivated to say “go!”, “again!”, or describe what’s happening.
Concepts and comparison: Which car went faster? Which balloon made it go further?
Breath support: Talking about balloons and air can be a natural way to introduce concepts related to breathing and voice.
The best part is that it never fails to bring smiles (and sometimes squeals!) to the session.
Why I Love These Toys This Season
Both of these toys are inexpensive, easy to set up, and versatile across therapy goals. They encourage communication in a natural, fun context, while also creating shared joy – which is at the heart of speech and language therapy.
If you’d like to explore more of my favourite resources, I’ve put together a toy & resource list, which you can find here.
As the weather turns cooler, these little moments of play have made my therapy sessions feel warm, lively, and memorable.