Speech and Language Therapy Services for Children

Hackney Council is seeking to commission an integrated Speech and Language Therapy Service to support children with communication, language, speech, swallowing, and eating needs. The service will deliver direct therapeutic interventions aligned with children's Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs), as well as provide indirect support through staff training and guidance to parents and carers. The service will operate across multiple settings including mainstream schools, early years provision, Young Hackney, and Youth Justice Virtual School. As part of the Hackney Experts at Hand initiative—a Department for Education program—Speech and Language Therapists will be embedded within settings to build capacity and enable mainstream education provisions to better support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This represents a shift from traditional clinic-based models to an embedded expert support approach. Contract duration: 3 years initial term with two optional 1-year extensions (5 years maximum). Expected start date: 1st April 2027.