Ofsted Outstanding

Speech and Language

About Me

I’m a dedicated Speech and Language Assistant supporting children in developing clear and confident communication. My work focuses on helping young learners strengthen their speech sounds, language skills, social communication, and overall confidence in expressing themselves.

I work closely with children, families, and school staff to create a supportive and engaging environment where every child can thrive. Whether a child needs help with pronunciation, understanding language, building vocabulary, or developing conversational skills - I tailor my approach to meet their individual needs.

I’m also mentored by a highly experienced Speech and Language Therapist with over 30 years of expertise. She visits once a month to review children’s progress, guide next steps, and advise on therapy approaches. This means every child I support benefits from both my day‑to‑day work and the insight of a specialist.

We also work closely with our NHS link Speech and Language Therapist. Children who are referred through the NHS pathway may receive direct therapy sessions in school, and the NHS therapist provides additional guidance on targets, strategies, and next steps. This partnership helps us ensure that every child receives coordinated, high‑quality support.

What I Do

Here are some of the ways I support children:

🗣️ Speech sound development – helping children produce sounds more clearly

📚 Language support – building understanding, vocabulary, and sentence structure

🤝 Social communication – supporting turn‑taking, conversation skills, and confidence

🎲 Play‑based learning – using fun, motivating activities to encourage communication

👨‍👩‍👧 Family collaboration – offering guidance so parents can support progress at home

🏫 School support – working alongside teachers and therapists to ensure consistency

How to contact me

If you’d like to discuss your child’s communication needs or ask any questions, I’m always happy to help. You can reach me directly at

📧 Email: lauren.barnes@avonwoodprimaryschool.org.uk

Please note, I work Wednesday to Friday and I have a week’s turnaround and will reply to your emails within a week. Please note, I work Wednesday to Friday, and I have a week’s turnaround and will reply to your emails within a week.

United Learning Hub

United Learning comprises: United Learning Ltd (Registered in England No: 00018582. Charity No. 313999) UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee.
Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB.

Financial Accountability and Freedom of Information

United Learning