Do out-of-school hours private speech therapists exist?

[LoudBrickTiger]

My kid has been diagnosed by both a private and NHS speech therapist to having some communication issues. I took the private one because the NHS referral took so long but she decided on a consolidation period when the NHS one was going to do her first assessment.

Both the NHS and private have similar diagnostics and the NHS one gave some activities etc for the school to do with the child. The NHS will review in one year.

I feel that not enough progress is being made.

I have been looking for a private speech therapist who works after school hours or weekends since I don't want to interfere with the school schedule.

It have been an elusive process, most private therapists seem to work part time during term time and school hours only.

Any advice on finding one?

Thanks

I’m assuming you have looked on www.asltip.com? That’s where I point people towards.

You might be able to find someone if you’re happy to go online? You can search online therapy only as well on asltip.

DS did it at 8am before school nursery started. Holidays she still worked but we usually changed the time because no point in doing it so early when there was no school. She also would have done after school but I didn’t want that as he would have been too tired. Going into the school was also an option if you were paying for travel time. Maybe try a different private practice and definitely ask locally for recommendations. I found ours through a recommendation from a mum at swimming.

Yes, this is how I found the first one. Unfortunate she worked during term-time and school hours only.

I guess I better go back to the ASLTIP directory and make sure to tell them that I require weekend or after-school hours and holiday work too.

It is just time consuming to call the therapists one by one rather than just look at their business page and get the info.

I hope I can find such a person. I feel that most private therapists leave the NHS for a lifestyle change of working selected few hours only.