Speech and Language Interventions for Schools
Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) touch far more areas of school life than many people expect. Language difficulties show up in reading comprehension, classroom engagement, social interaction and behaviour - and they're among the most common, and most frequently missed, forms of SEND.
The encouraging news is that targeted, structured intervention makes a real difference. And with the right programme in place, it's something your staff can lead.
LINGO's intervention programmes have been developed by speech and language therapy experts and are designed to fit into school life - delivered by teachers or teaching assistants, with the whole class or a targeted group. Each programme comes with everything you need to get started: a comprehensive guide, training, session plans, assessment tools, and all the materials required.
Why Speech and Language is Worth Investing in
Schools are managing more priorities than ever, with limited budgets and real pressure on staff time. So, when it comes to directing resource, the case for speech and language needs to be clear. Here's what the evidence tells us:
Fewer than half of children with SLCN are identified.
Many are misread as having behavioural difficulties, low motivation or general learning needs. Without identification, the right support never reaches them.
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Spoken language underpins literacy.
A child who struggles with language will find reading, writing and comprehension harder too. Focusing on oral language development has been shown to accelerate academic progress by six months.
SLCN affects how children access learning.
When a child struggles to understand what's being asked of them, engaging with lessons becomes a genuine challenge - not a choice.
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Intervention at the right time changes outcomes.
Children with SLCN who receive well-structured support make measurable progress - in language, learning outcomes, confidence, and their ability to engage with school life.
For schools focused on SEND provision, literacy outcomes, or reducing classroom disruption, speech and language intervention is one of the most effective places to direct support.
Our Speech and Language Intervention Programmes
Each LINGO intervention maps to a specific age range and stage, so finding the right fit for your children is straightforward. These are complete, structured programmes - thoughtfully designed systems your team can follow with clarity and confidence.
Chatterboxes: Early Years
A language intervention for EYFS settings, focused on building conversation, vocabulary and early communication skills through engaging small group work. Schools using Chatterboxes have seen children make an average of 12 months of language progress over a four-month period.
Talking Time: Early Years
Developed in partnership with UCL, the University of Oxford and LINGO, Talking Time is a universal oral language programme that supports all children in a nursery setting to build stronger communication skills through high-quality, conversations. It is currently undergoing independent evaluation by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), with results expected in Summer 2026.
Sounds Right: Reception and KS1
A phonological awareness intervention for children aged 5-7 who are struggling to develop phonics skills. Phonological awareness is one of the strongest predictors of reading in young children, and the foundation on which phonics skills are built. Sounds Right directly targets these skills.​
Language Legends: KS2
A vocabulary and language intervention for primary-aged children with language difficulties, built around well-known stories. Language Legends develops understanding, expression, vocabulary and social interaction skills. Children who completed the programme moved from RAG score of red to green, making such good progress they no longer needed additional support.
News Hackers: KS3
A language and oracy intervention for secondary schools, built around current news stories. News Hackers develops comprehension, verbal reasoning and discussion skills, and works equally well in whole tutor groups or smaller targeted sessions. It's a flexible programme that can be adapted to meet a wide range of needs across KS3.
Designed to be delivered by your staff
One of the most practical aspects of LINGO's intervention programmes is that they don't require a speech and language therapist to run them. Many schools choose to have a teaching assistant lead the sessions - keeping costs manageable while still delivering a programme with real clinical rigour behind it.​ Every programme includes:
A comprehensive introductory guide covering the theory, the why, and the how
Pre- and post-intervention assessment tools
Detailed, structured session plans so there's no guesswork
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Training to support delivery
A consistent session format so it quickly becomes familiar to staff and children alike
All materials needed to run the programme
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A staff member who works through the guide will have everything they need to run the programme well, understand what they're doing and why, and recognise the progress children are making. And if you do ever get stuck, we offer unlimited after sales support.
Evidence-informed, in practice
All of LINGO's interventions are evidence-based - grounded in speech and language research and shaped by clinical experience working with schools. Evidence based practice matters to us - and we know it matters to the schools we work with. Part of that means going beyond our own experience; working with leading researchers to build the kind of independent evidence that schools can trust.
We are currently working in partnership with the University of Oxford and University College London on Talking Time - an oral language programme for children aged 3 to 5 that is currently undergoing independent evaluation by the EEF. Results are expected in Summer 2026.
Find the right Intervention for your School
Stage
Early Years
Early Years
Reception / KS1
KS2
KS3
Age Range
Ages 3–5
Ages 3–5
Ages 4–6
Ages 7–11
Ages 11–14
Programme
Chatterboxes
Talking Time
Sounds Right
Language Legends
News Hackers
Not sure which intervention is the best fit? Get in touch and we'll help you work it out.