What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9:15am - 4:30pm Thursday 9:15am - 4:30pm

Let's Expand Communication - Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy NI, Huntingdale, Ballyclare (2026)

An innovative team working as Independent Specialist Paediatric SLTs in NI within family homes, schools, nuseries, charities and our specialist space….we love being innovative and working with other professionals. An innovative team working as Independent Paediatric Speech and Language Therapists in NI alongside developing unique apps for communication needs....

09/08/2026

As I have been recording new episodes for season 5, I looked back at the podcast numbers and thought it would be fun to share the episodes YOU have been listening to the most. 👀

Over 10,150 listens and 499 followers I was blown away…

From conversations that made you laugh, to ones that made you think, to the topics that clearly struck a chord…

And if you’re new to the podcast, consider this your “where should I start?” guide.

🎧 Search Diary of an SLT wherever you get your podcasts.

07/08/2026

The 13 things I always try to do:

1. Protect my diary - don’t fill every slot, admin and breathing are important too

2. Confirm appointments in writing - Clear communication protects everyone

3. Invoice promptly - Getting paid for work I’ve already done is part of running a sustainable business

4. Invest in CPD - I want to keep learning, questioning my practice and making sure the support I provide stays evidence-informed.

5. Say no when it’s not the right fit - Not every enquiry needs to become a booking.

6. Keep a financial buffer - Having some money set aside gives me breathing space and makes those things much less stressful.

7. Review my goals - It’s very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day. I make time to step back and ask: Is this business actually going in the direction I want it to?

8. Ask for testimonials - Genuine feedback helps potential families understand what working with me is actually like.

9. Make time for admin - I try not to pretend admin doesn’t exist!

10. Network with other SLTs - Having other SLTs to ask questions, share ideas with, collaborate with and learn from is invaluable.

11. Protect my annual leave - so important!

12. Track what’s actually making money - Revenue isn’t the same as profit.

13. Celebrate the small wins - Running a small business can feel like you’re constantly looking at what’s next, so I try to notice what’s already going right.

None of these things are groundbreaking.

But done consistently? They make a huge difference.

And perhaps that’s the biggest lesson I’m learning from half marathon training too: you don’t have to do everything perfectly. You just have to keep moving forward.

05/08/2026

Families often tell us they don’t know what to expect from an autism assessment.

So today, we’re taking you behind the scenes of one of our clinic days.

From preparing the assessment materials to spending time getting to know each child, every step is carefully planned to create a calm, welcoming experience.

After the assessment, we meet with parents to explain our observations, answer questions and discuss the next steps together.

We know that seeking an assessment can feel like a big step. Our aim is to make the process as supportive, respectful and informative as possible for every family.

If you’d like to learn more about our autism assessment clinic, please send us a message, we are always happy to help.

31/07/2026

“Go see Blue Heron.” 🪶💙

When this little one kept asking to “go see Blue Heron,” Mum could have easily thought he wanted to visit the river to spot a bird… but she knew they’d never done that on this particular journey before.

So instead, she put on her detective hat. 🕵️‍♀️

🔍 she noticed the context - when was her child on this road.
🔍 she looked for clues - what was a similar colour to the blue heron (which she knew was the line from a book they read frequently)
🔍 she thought about what was happening in his world ( where this road they were on could lead to)

Then it clicked…

💡” Blue Heron” wasn’t the bird at all. It was speech and language sessions with me. ❤️ ( I owned a blue car and it was the first thing her son saw when they pulled up for sessions)

This is exactly what we talk about for our little GLP learners.

Gestalt language isn’t random. It isn’t meaningless. Every script, every phrase, every seemingly “out of context” comment is stored with meaning and emotion. Our job isn’t to correct it—it’s to become curious enough to discover what our children are really communicating.

Sometimes the clue is in where they heard it.
Sometimes it’s in what they were doing.
Sometimes it’s in how they felt.

When we become communication detectives instead of communication correctors, incredible moments of connection happen.

Huge credit to this amazing mum for trusting her instincts, following the clues, and uncovering the meaning behind her child’s words. Those are the moments that build confidence—for both parent and child. 💛

Have you ever had one of those “Aha!” moments where something your child said suddenly made perfect sense? I’d love to hear your detective stories below. 👇

29/07/2026

One of the loveliest things a parent has ever said to me was:

“He always smiles and runs up the path on his way to see you.” 💛

That meant more to me than they probably realised.

Of course, I love celebrating speech and language progress. But before any learning can happen, children need to feel safe, comfortable and genuinely excited to come through the door.

When therapy feels like a place where they’re understood, encouraged and able to be themselves, confidence grows—and so does communication.

Every session is built around connection, play and helping each child feel successful, because those feelings matter just as much as the goals we’re working towards.

If your child is finding communication tricky, know that speech therapy doesn’t have to feel scary. It can become something they look forward to each week.

✨ Sometimes the biggest compliment isn’t hearing, “My child is talking more.”

It’s hearing, “My child can’t wait to come back.”

PlayBasedLearning ParentSupport

24/07/2026

Every post we share is created with one goal in mind: helping children develop their communication skills and giving parents, carers, and educators practical, evidence-based advice they can actually use.

By following this page, you’ll find:
🗣️ Simple strategies to support speech, language and communication
💙 Tips to make everyday interactions more meaningful
📚 Evidence-based information to help you separate fact from fiction
🎯 Activities you can try at home to encourage communication
🌱 Encouragement and reassurance that progress doesn’t have to be perfect

You might not need these ideas today. But one day you—or someone you know—might be looking for answers, and a post you’ve seen here could make all the difference.

If our content has ever helped you understand your child’s communication a little better, given you a new strategy to try, or simply reminded you that you’re not alone, we’d love to know.

Because every child deserves the chance to communicate with confidence. 💜

Address

Huntingdale
Ballyclare
BT399YZ

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9:15am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9:15am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+447729975710

Website

http://www.expandingcommunication.org/

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