Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist (SLT)
Full-Time, Permanent (Term Time Only)
September Start
Mole Valley, Surrey
Salary: £30,000 – £45,000 per annum, depending on experience
Interviews are arranged ASAP
What would it mean to work with a caseload where every child genuinely needs you? And what would it mean to do that work within a team that treats therapy as central to everything, not an add-on?
These are the questions worth sitting with before you read any further.
The Opportunity
This is a permanent, full-time paediatric Speech and Language Therapist position within a specialist school in Surrey, supporting children and young people aged 7 to 16. Every pupil holds an Education, Health and Care Plan. All have a diagnosis of Autism, and a significant number present with co‑occurring Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.
The school is part of a well‑established specialist education group. It sits within a substantial natural environment, with outdoor and nature‑based learning embedded meaningfully across the curriculum. Therapy here is not a separate service running alongside education. It is part of the school's daily rhythm, built into an enhanced curriculum that prioritises regulation, resilience, and personal development alongside academic progress.
The facilities are purpose‑built and include dedicated therapy spaces, a multi‑sports hall, a theatre space, and extensive outdoor learning areas. Class sizes are small and staff‑to‑student ratios are high. This school has invested seriously in getting the environment right.
The Clinical Picture
The young people you will be working with present with a range of social communication differences, pragmatic language difficulties, and challenges with self‑expression and language processing. Many find it difficult to regulate their emotions, and for some, anxiety significantly affects how they engage with communication in both structured and unstructured settings.
This is not a generic caseload. It asks for a clinician who is comfortable with complexity, understands the relationship between communication and emotional regulation, and can adapt their approach to meet each young person where they are.
The Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist Role
As the school's Speech and Language Therapist, you will manage a varied caseload and work closely with a multidisciplinary team comprising specialist teachers, an occupational therapist, and pastoral staff.
Your responsibilities will include:
* Assessing pupils and developing individual therapy plans that reflect each child's communication profile and EHCP targets
* Delivering direct therapy and indirect support, working across classroom, small group, and individual settings
* Designing and implementing strategies for social communication, narrative skills, language processing, and functional communication
* Collaborating with teachers and support staff to develop communication‑friendly approaches across the school environment
* Contributing to EHCP reviews and annual review processes
* Engaging with families to support consistency between school and home
* Supporting the school's broader therapeutic curriculum through advice, training, and joint working
Who They Are Looking for
The school is looking for a Speech and Language Therapist at Band 6 or Band 7 level, registered with HCPC and RCSLT. Candidates with solid Band 5 experience and a clear commitment to developing their practice within a specialist SEND context will also be considered seriously.
Experience of working with Autistic children or young people, or with social communication and pragmatic language difficulties, is an advantage. So is experience of the EHCP process, though this is not essential. What matters most is your clinical confidence, your ability to build relationships with young people who may find it difficult to trust, and your genuine interest in working in an education setting where therapy shapes outcomes every day.
If you are currently working in the NHS or a community setting and are considering a move into specialist education, this is a role worth exploring. The school provides ongoing CPD and will support you in understanding the SEND education context if it is new to you.
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