Targeted Referrals

If your referral is from social care, or if the family requires intensive or high-level support, please consider a referral to Family Help (FPS).

These programmes are for those that need more targeted support with communication and/ or learning and developmental needs, for our universal programmes please see parenting referrals. To refer a parent please follow our referral process below.

Little Talkers

A 5-week program designed for children aged 18 months to 3 years who have early communication needs.

Little Treasures

A 12-week program supporting children aged 18 months to 4 years with developmental needs.

Little Learners

A 6-week blended program, incorporating home visits and group sessions, aimed at empowering parents to support their child's learning and development at home. Suitable for children aged 18 months to 4 years.

Referral process

1. Submission: Please complete all referrals for our targeted sessions using the referral form below. Please put as much detail as possible and Submit the form via Egress to: flyingstart@eyalliance.org.uk.

2. Family Contact: Once we receive a referral, we will reach out to the family directly to ask a series of questions. This approach will help us assess the families' specific needs and concerns.

3. Session Placement: Based on this assessment, families will either be placed in or waitlisted for one of our three targeted programs, the referrer will also be informed of the outcome.

Talking Takes Off

Talking Takes Off aims to improve speech and communication in children from 0-5 years old in Luton.

Speech and language provide the solid foundations on which to build the best start in life. They lead to vital skills which will guide children on a life long journey of socialising, learning and progress as well as helping them to achieve their full potential and wellbeing.

Our aim is to make sure that the importance of communication is a conversation everyone is having.

There is a range of information and support services available for professionals working with children in Luton that focus on developing early communication skills at every stage. There are a range of free training courses for professionals, Available for all Early Years staff working in settings, find details on this free training herevisit our training page for more information.

Whilst all children will benefit from support with developing their communication skills at a universal level, some benefit from more targeted support. A smaller number of children will benefit from specialist support to help them reach their communicative potential.

We have put together a pathway that documents the breadth of support we have available for children in Luton. You can find details of support services available on our Talking Takes Off Pathway. Parents can also access our Parent Guide.

Further support for each level is listed below:

The Flying Start Speech and Language Therapist and Luton council's Early Years team have put together a Padlet to share resources, ideas and advice.

For more information and advice, visit the local NHS Speech and Language Therapy website and the NHS Speech and Language Therapy Facebook page, where there are weekly topics and posts that can also be shared with parents.

National campaigns and websites:

For children who may need further support our Early Years Communication and Language Toolkit allows you to screen a child's communication skills and support children with communication and language needs. It provides resources with ideas and strategies that you can use to support children. You can also access training on using the toolkit here.

Locally developed small language groups, called Lift Off to Language, are a great way to support children's communication skills within their Early Years setting. Available for all Early Years staff working in settings, find details on this free training here.

Access information, advice and targeted training to extend your knowledge and skills through the NHS Speech and Language Therapy website.

What else can I do?

  • Start by identifying which area of communication you will focus on using the building blocks of communication and select strategies and activities from the resources section of the Toolkit or other resources available.
  • Share advice and strategies with parents as appropriate. We have developed some information pages for parents that you can find here.
  • Consider referral to our Little Talkers group if parents would benefit from further support and advice for their child's language skills. Referrals will be triaged to ensure the group is the most suitable next step for the child. Please ensure you clearly state the concerns and observations of the child's speech, language and communication skills. There are two forms to complete with as much information on as possible and send:
  1. Quick-Checklist-Little-Talkers 2023
  2. Referral form

Look at Luton's local offer for details of wider support agencies and options.

If you have used the Early Years Communication and Language Toolkit to screen the child and have implemented and reviewed early advice strategies and seen little progress, consider if specialist support is needed. You can use the referral guidance to help you.

If the referral guidance indicates that the child needs specialist support for example the child has difficulties in social communication, feeding (eating, swallowing and drinking) or stammering, consider direct referral to Speech and Language Therapy (SALT). You can find referral information here.

For more information and advice, visit the local NHS Speech and Language Therapy website.

What else can I do?

Look at Luton's local offer for details of wider support agencies and options.

Consider wider referrals and signposting that may be of benefit to the family. For example referral to paediatrician, audiology services or signposting to support groups.

Click here to view posters with the Key Messages on for Parents

Who to contact

Telephone: 01582 368245

E-mail: Flyingstart@eyalliance.org.uk

Register With Flying Start

Timetable