SpeechStep for UK Families: Speech Practice While You Wait
Stuck on an NHS waiting list, or want to do more between private sessions? SpeechStep gives your child daily, AI-guided speech practice with simple parent guidance. Affordable, at home, and designed to keep your child progressing while you wait. It works alongside NHS and private therapy, never in place of it.
Start daily practice at home — free
Guided practice runs in your browser with a free parent account. SpeechStep is practice, not therapy: if your child may need a therapist, your country’s register of licensed professionals is the place to start.
The problem UK parents keep hitting
You’ve noticed your child needs help with their speech, you’ve done the right thing and sought support — and now you’re waiting. With over 40,000 children waiting more than 12 weeks for NHS therapy, the hardest part is often the months of doing nothing while your child’s development carries on.1
Speech and language needs affect over 10% of children, so you’re far from alone — but that also means the queue is long.2
How SpeechStep helps
Helping children speak with confidence through daily AI-guided speech practice — the practice your child does at home between (or while waiting for) professional support.
- 1Your child practises their target sounds daily — a few focused minutes at home.
- 2They get instant, gentle feedback on how each sound was said, so practice stays accurate.
- 3You get simple coaching on what to work on, without needing to be a specialist.
- 4You see progress over time — and have something concrete to share when your NHS or private appointment comes.
Alongside the professionals
SpeechStep is built to complement NHS and private therapy, not replace it. When your appointment arrives, your child arrives having practised — not having stood still.
What it costs
The SpeechStep app — daily practice with AI feedback on the R sound and listen-and-compare for the others — is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play, and you can ask us to tell you the moment it lands. You do not have to wait for it: free guided practice runs in your browser today with a free parent account. SpeechStep does not offer one-to-one sessions with its own speech professionals. SpeechStep does not provide regulated therapy with a clinician licensed in your country. If your child may need therapy, your country’s own register of licensed therapists is the place to find one.
Start daily practice at home — free
Guided practice runs in your browser with a free parent account. SpeechStep is practice, not therapy: if your child may need a therapist, your country’s register of licensed professionals is the place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Can we use SpeechStep while waiting for NHS therapy?＋
Yes — it’s one of the main reasons UK parents start. Daily practice keeps your child progressing during the wait. It doesn’t remove your child from the NHS list.
Is SpeechStep a replacement for a speech and language therapist?＋
No. SpeechStep is daily practice and parent guidance. It doesn’t diagnose or treat and doesn’t replace an NHS or private speech and language therapist — it helps your child keep going between or while waiting for professional support.
Can SpeechStep help my child from home?＋
Yes. SpeechStep is designed for daily home practice — your child practises target sounds, and you get simple guidance on what to focus on. It is practice, not therapy, and it does not diagnose.
Is SpeechStep a diagnosis or therapy?＋
No. SpeechStep is practice software with simple parent guidance. It does not diagnose or treat, and it does not replace a licensed speech-language pathologist where your child needs one.
What if we’re already waiting for or seeing a therapist?＋
That’s exactly where SpeechStep fits. If you’re on a waiting list, daily practice keeps your child progressing until the appointment. If you already see a therapist, SpeechStep is the practice in between the sessions, where most of the real progress happens — many therapists recommend daily home practice for exactly this reason.
How much does SpeechStep cost?＋
Free practice runs in your browser today with a free parent account — you can start with your child right now, at no cost. The SpeechStep app (daily practice with AI feedback on the R sound, progress tracking and a parent dashboard) is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play; we’ll publish the price when it launches and you can ask us to notify you. SpeechStep does not offer one-to-one sessions with its own speech professionals. SpeechStep does not provide regulated therapy with a clinician licensed in your country. If your child may need therapy, your country’s own register of licensed therapists is the place to find one.
Can I work with a real speech professional too?＋
Yes — with your own. SpeechStep works with the speech-language pathologist your family already sees. You invite them, or they invite you — nothing is shared until you both agree, and you can disconnect at any time. SpeechStep does not offer one-to-one sessions with its own speech professionals. SpeechStep does not provide regulated therapy with a clinician licensed in your country. If your child may need therapy, your country’s own register of licensed therapists is the place to find one. Your practice and progress stay in SpeechStep either way.
Start daily practice at home — free
Guided practice runs in your browser with a free parent account. SpeechStep is practice, not therapy: if your child may need a therapist, your country’s register of licensed professionals is the place to start.
References
2 sources from authoritative bodies. Last reviewed July 2026.
- 1.GOV.UKEarlier support for speech and language for 20,000 children — government press release, 2025.
- 2.RCSLTRole of SLTs in children’s services — professional body page.
Keep reading
Speech therapy for children in the UK
How it works, costs, and waits.
Read →How much does speech therapy cost in the UK?
Private prices and NHS options.
Read →NHS vs private speech therapy
How to decide between them.
Read →Speech delay in children
Signs, causes, and when a delay is worth acting on.
Read →Speech milestones by age
What most children can say and do from ages 1–6.
Read →Speech therapy at home
How to practise speech with your child, day to day.
Read →