Judith McMillan

30% of students with SEND have speech, language and communication needs. It's the most common need.
It doesn't get anything like the profile that it should. After all these years of working in this sector that still flummoxes me.

It’s Odd Socks Day!
Even our office doggy has joined in with his wonderfully bright mismatched socks!
Today reminds us that individuality is something to value and celebrate. Are you wearing your odd socks today?
#OddSocksDay #AntiBullyingWeek
@anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

YouTube video by Scoliosis Support & Research Living With Scoliosis | Documentary Short

Incredible response to Scoliosis Support & Research Film. So many messages from #scoliosis warriors feeling recognised & encouraged by the documentary. And one who didn't, whom we are rallying around ♥️🤞 Very pleased & amazed to have been involved www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqZI...

We proud to be sponsoring the National Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Conference 2025!
This fantastic conference brings together educational professionals, charities and social enterprises to explore how to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

You can’t see DLD - but it’s there.
2 in every class of 30 have DLD, a hidden condition that makes understanding and using language harder.
This #DLDAwarenessDay, let’s raise our voices for children with DLD.
Learn more about DLD: tinyurl.com/3rssjc8h
#YouCantSeeDLD #DLDawareness

Fantastic day at the EU parliament today raising awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
A step forward!
Big thank you to MEP Peter Agies for hosting, ESLA for organizing and especially Chair, Sahra Ahmed.
#DevLangDis
#DLDday

#DLDday is coming, so I’m starting a thread over a few days.

DLD (Developmental Language Disorder) is all about spoken language. Words and sentences are tricky for people with DLD. And people don’t grow out of it.
#DevLangDis @radld.bsky.social

The latest Link Secondary magazine will be in schools from this Monday the 9th of June! This edition includes articles about:
🕮 How to support students to be better readers
🚌School trips for students with SLCN
🤸Sensory circuits
🧑‍💻Our regular Ask a Therapist feature
➕Much, much more!

Ted Wragg Trust and the Inspiration Trust both fund Secondary Language Link for all their secondary school staff to identify and support pupils with language difficulties. Ted Wragg Trust also uses Infant Language Link within its primary schools.

Not mentioned in this article is Secondary Language Link, which all Ted Wragg Trust and Inspiration Trust schools use to identify and support young people with language difficulties -@speechandlanguage.bsky.social.

School Transition for pupils with SEND – How Parents Can Support A supportive partnership between home and school is essential for children with SEND, especially during school transitions. Schools face challenges managing transitions due to different settings an…

New blogpost: School transition for pupils with SEND - how parents can support

Reposts appreciated.

sendmatters.co.uk/2025/03/29/s...

@speechandlanguage.bsky.social

@speechandlanguage.bsky.social what a great day we had, sharing knowledge and discussing how speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) identification and intervention are the building blocks for #oracy. Thank you to @kateparadine.bsky.social and the @voice21oracy.bsky.social team!

I am very happy to be here at the @voice21oracy.bsky.social Speaking Summit! I'm looking forward to some interesting presentations and meeting all of you who are joining us!

Tomorrow Alison Fowle and I will be exhibiting for @speechandlanguage.bsky.social at the Voice21 Speaking Summit! We can’t wait to listen to some of the amazing presentations.
I am really looking forward to connecting with new people and seeing some familiar faces!

We have been named a finalist in the ERA Awards 2025 in two categories!

Secondary Language Link – Finalist in the SEND Resource or Equipment category

The Link Community – Finalist in the Free Resource category

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our mission!

The interim Curriculum and Assessment Review states that it will "…explore ways of ensuring the assessment system is properly inclusive of all students, particularly those with SEND". We look forward to engaging with the Review Panel to ensure that speech & language skills are fully considered

I am so excited to be attending the Gateway Alliance SENCo Network Conference tomorrow! I am particularly looking forward to presentations from previous Link Live speakers Kylie Rio Wood and Imogen and Ioan Barry.
I can't wait to catch up with familiar faces and meet some new ones too!

You can screen 15 secondary students for FREE with our 1 month trial to identify those with language and communication needs - speechandlanguage.link/whole-school...

@speechandlanguage.bsky.social

We have decided to try to build a new network here on Bluesky. Please follow us to find out what we are up to in our fabulous school.

Logos of 49 organisations supporting communication amendments to the Mental Health Bill.

🚨 Today, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists is joining over 40 organisations in calling for the Mental Health Bill to be strengthened to better support people with a communication disability, difficulty, or difference.

▶️ Check out our briefing: rcslt.org/wp-content/u...

People with DLD, researchers & practitioners, let's make 2025 a big year for Developmental Language Disorder!
We all have a role to play.
Post, share, like and comment so we can share knowledge, build networks and raise awareness. #DevLangDis

It was reassuring to hear like-minded professionals discuss embedding a whole-school approach to SLCN and considering the universal strategies we can employ in classrooms that benefit all pupils, while being particularly useful for others. Sue Marr - Teacher Trainer Moor House Research & Training Institute

The presentation given by Ioan Berry was inspiring and reaffirmed how vital it is to listen to those with lived experience of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), so that we can offer the most appropriate and effective support.” Sue Marr - Teacher Trainer Moor House Research & Training Institute

A fortnight ago we had our great Link Live Speech and Language day!
One of our previous Link Live speakers, Sue Marr from Moor House, joined us for the event.
Remember, Link Community member can watch some of the highlights here: speechandlanguage.link/the-link-com...
Here's what Sue had to say:

Afasic is part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024—every donation made between 3rd-10th Dec will be doubled!
Support their ‘DLD Together’ courses for families of children with DLD. Donate here: donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

On the 27th of January, parliament will debate increasing funding for Speech and language therapy for children who desperately need it. Well done to all those who have brought this another step closer ...
#InvestInSLT.

www.itv.com/news/central...

@speechandlanguage.bsky.social are one of the sponsors at the IGPP annual SEND conference!
20 of our community members won free tickets this year and our own Kate Freeman will host a session "If the answer is SLCN, what is the question?"
Hopefully we will see some of you there tomorrow, 26/11!

Top Toys for Talking Speech and language therapists are often known for their arrival at a school, carrying an unwieldly bag full of assessments and resources. With this magical bag, they are armed with the tools to asses...

Need ideas to support speech and language in school?

Check out our Top Toys for Talking—a guide for SLTs to find engaging tools that boost communication development. Perfect for therapy sessions in school settings!

Explore here: speechandlanguage.link/resources/to...
#SLT #SpeechAndLanguage

Delighted to be a part of @SpeechLink’s CPD day and to be joined by hundreds of colleagues online this morning #speechandlanguage #linklive24

Issue 4 of The Link Secondary is in your school now! Packed with speech and language support advice, information from the Speech & Language Link team and guest contributors to help you support the vital skills that form the building blocks of oracy.
speechandlanguage.link/the-link-com...

Please join us for Link Live Speech and Language on the 21st Nov. @speechandlanguage.bsky.social are hosting this great online event for the fourth year in a row where we will be joined by over 700 professionals working in education. Sign up on the link below. speechandlanguage.link/the-link-com...