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 parent coaching — plus a free Welcome Session with a SpeechStep Coach. 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.
Talk to a SpeechStep Coach — free
Book a free Welcome Session with a SpeechStep Coach — guidance on your child’s speech and a home-practice plan, at no cost.
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 instant AI feedback on every sound — 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, a Welcome Session with a SpeechStep Coach is free and available now, and affordable ongoing 1:1 coaching can be arranged after it. Local licensed therapists in your own country are coming soon in most markets, and already available in India.
Start with a free Welcome Session
Tell a SpeechStep Coach what you’re seeing. You’ll leave with a clear read on your child’s speech and a simple plan for the wait — free.
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, and the free Welcome Session helps you plan what to do next. 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 with instant feedback, and you get simple guidance on what to focus on. You can also book a free online Welcome Session with a SpeechStep Coach to plan the right next steps.
Is the Welcome Session a diagnosis or therapy?＋
No. It is free parent guidance and coaching — a SpeechStep Coach helps you understand your child’s speech and gives you a practical home plan. It is not a formal diagnosis and does not replace a licensed speech-language pathologist where one is needed.
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 — you can start with your child right now, at no cost. The SpeechStep app (daily practice plus instant AI feedback on every 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. Your first Welcome Session with a SpeechStep Coach is free, and affordable ongoing 1:1 coaching can be arranged after it. Local licensed therapists in your own country are coming soon in most markets (already available in India).
Can I work with a real speech professional too?＋
Yes. Start with a free Welcome Session with one of our SpeechStep Coaches — that’s available today. For ongoing 1:1 help you have two options: (1) the SpeechStep Network — affordable, English-speaking speech coaching at one simple price, available now and arranged with you after your Welcome Session; and (2) local licensed therapists in your own country for local clinical care, available in India today and coming soon in most other markets. Book the free Welcome Session and we’ll match you to what fits. Your app practice and progress travel with you either way.
Talk to a SpeechStep Coach — free
Book your free Welcome Session. Your coach reviews your child’s practice and gives you guidance and a simple home plan — no diagnosis, no pressure.
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 →