Nicola is one of the top Speech and Language Therapists in the UK. She is the author of the prize-winning book, Small Talk, and has also written a series of children’s books, underpinned by Speech and Language Therapy principles.
Nicola’s decision to train as a Speech and Language Therapist centred on the fact that she has a younger brother with Down Syndrome, who needed Speech and Language Therapy support when he was young. She therefore has direct personal experience of the effects which speech and language problems can have on children and on their families. She qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1999, graduating from University College London, and worked for the NHS and abroad from then until 2011 when she set up the first Owl Centre in Oxford.
Her latest book, the 5 star reviewed What to Do When Your Child Isn’t Talking: Expert Strategies to Help Your Baby or Toddler Talk, Overcome Speech Delay, & Build Language Skills for Life was published in 2023.
In this session, Nicola shares practical insights and clear guidance to help Early Years professionals identify and support children’s speech and language development. Whether you’re working with babies, toddlers, or preschoolers, this interview offers supportive, expert knowledge that will boost your confidence and toolkit in this essential area.
In this episode you’ll:
- Learn the stages of typical speech and language development – and when to be concerned
- Discover why some children develop stammers and how best to support them
- Hear how to respond to unclear speech without knocking confidence
- Find out simple activities and games that support communication skills in all children
- Get Nicola’s top tip for speech and language support – it’s simpler than you might think!
Watch this session to gain confidence in supporting every child’s communication, with easy-to-use ideas!
Episode Links:
https://www.facebook.com/TheOwlCentre
You can find both of Nicola’s books here:
Small Talk: How to Develop Your Child’s Language Skills from Birth to Age Four (2014) https://amzn.to/4iAfDth
What to do when your child isn’t talking (2023) https://amzn.to/42PYkyI
Look out for this FREE webinar for Education professionals from the Owl Centre:
Do you want ideas to promote a settled classroom environment? Could you benefit from strategies that can be put in place immediately?
Creating a calmer and more focused classroom isn’t always easy — but the right support can make all the difference.
Join us for a practical webinar led by experienced Speech and Language Therapists (SaLT) and Occupational Therapists (OT), where we’ll explore how collaborative approaches can support regulation, engagement, and positive learning environments for all students.
Date: Tuesday 13th May
Time: 4pm – 4:30pm
via Microsoft Teams | Free to attend
Register now to secure your spot at
but if you can’t make it, your registration will allow you to watch at a later date.
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Episode Includes
- Episode Certificate
